the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power Now these are not transient but abiding things so the Ministery which is for the perfecting of the Saints in the sence above expressed was in like nature not onely given for that end but fixed and established by appointment for the same purpose The other branch of this Ministery was To edifie the body of Christ and to build upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chiefe corner-stone Now to apply what hath been spoken to the Ministery which Christ gave for this work as it consists of two branches Viz. Perfecting Edifying These workes are appropriate to two parts of the Ministery The first are called Apostles Prophets Evangelists and precede the Church Matth. 28.19 Mat 16.15 Ephes 2.20 21 22. or are before it having the whole world for their Circuit dealing with them as with the World with the Nations as with the Nations Discipling them preparing and fitting them felling hewing and squaring those stones and that timber that it might be made meet for the building as also laying the foundation even themselves next and in order to the Lord Jesus acknowledging him to be the chiefe corner-stone of the building and the building it self to be Gods 1 Cor. 3.9 10 but themselves labourers therein and wise Master-builders thereon The second are such as being part of the number of those which have been so gathered out of the World and placed into the building by the former Master-builders and by them also appointed to edifie the body i. e. to carry on the building keeping to the foundation furnishing them with Rule and Square and Compass and Line and Plummet and whatever was necessary to compleat this work or make the Man of God perfect All which are comprehended in the holy Scriptures and more collectively in the Epistles of Paul to Timothy and Titus And this Ministery are called Pastors and Teachers who are to feed the Church as the former were to breed it these to carry on the building as the other to lay the foundation these to be resident where they were chosen as those to pass on and prepare and fit more materials for the perfecting of the great building the whole House of God Now forasmuch as the number of the Saints are to be perfected and then to be edified and this to be done by a Ministery consisting of Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers and forasmuch as this is made the work of the Ministery so named and numbered as before to be accomplisht not by any one without the other of them not by the Ministery of the Apostles alone or Prophets onely or Evangelists onely much lesse by the Ministery of Pastors and Teachers onely but by these together as making up the Ministery which Christ ascending on high gave and by Ordinance or appointment set and constituted in the Church And seeing the number of the Saints is not perfected but rather as that Scripture saith The whole world lieth in wickedness or in that wicked one and that there are still Nations and Kindreds and Tongues and People to whom the Gospel may be preached and amongst whom Disciples may be made and Churches formed and built upon the true foundation Hence I conclude with my self and refer it to the judgment of him that reads it in answer to the Question That the Ministery which the Lord Jesus appointed to succeed him was for nature and end a breeding and feeding Ministery The one to prepare the Saints and to gather them into a Church as will be endeavoured to be proved in its proper place the other to build on upon the first foundation being first gathered and set thereon And that these are both alike for their end and duration or continuance appeares First Because they together make up but one Ministery Secondly Because they all being the fruits of one Purchase the same necessity remains for the one as for the other so long as any Saints are to be gathered as well as any to be edified these are to continue and that is till we all come to the unity of the Faith c. the Elect of God standing in as much need of the one instrumentally to enlighten and convert them as of the other to edifie and strengthen them being converted For as God when he gave one gave the other also so the Saints may see a necessity for the continuation of the one as well as of the other the former namely Apostles Prophets Evangelists having been some space of time without the later as appears by Acts 14.23 but the later I conceive have never been in truth without the former at least I know not where or when and should be willing to be informed forasmuch as the Foundation must precede the building up of the Superstructure and the Pastoral feeding the Lambs of the Lord Jesus must needs presuppose a Ministerial Breeding to have preceded in those pure and orderly Institutions The third and fourth Questions I shall answer together Quest Whether there be any Pattern of any Visible congregated Church under the Gospel without or before a Ministery or Baptism Or Whether the present Ministery or present Churches may be acknowledged the Ministery and Churches of Christ according to the first Pattern To the first part of the Question this will be answered Answ That it doth not appear in Scripture that any of the first Churches were gathered into their Visible Order without a Ministery preceding or before Baptism If it be otherwise it 's hoped it will be shewed where and when If it be not to be shewed How deeply are they concerned who set up such Churches whereof there is no Pattern in the Word of God! I know it is ordinarily said and accordingly practised that a company of Believers may by mutual consent or agreement become a Church and appoint one to baptize the rest and accordingly chuse their own Officers and proceed to other Administrations and this in the Name of Christ And such a Company of Believers are accounted by themselves and some others a true Visible Church Others say the same thing in other words Now I would argue the case a little touching Believers consenting to become a Church so far as may help to clear the Question in hand When a person desires to joyn himself to some one of the present Churches though the person be never so desirous in himself to be added yet he can but propound his desire of joyning and being admitted This Church considers and judges of this person's Faith and fitness for Fellowship and that in the Name of the Lord and must declare the Lord's consent in the Church's to the receiving such a Person into such a Fellowship before he can be admitted The person's willingness in himself to be joyned makes him not a Member of such a Fellowship he cannot give his own consent and the Church's too but as he is willing to manifest his
promised Quest That from the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same his Name shall be great among the Gentiles Mal. 1.11 How shall this Name of Christ be proclaimed and made great among the Gentiles in this desolate and lost condition according to Rom. 10. Answ This Question seems to be like Isaac's Question to his Answ Father My Father where is the Lamb for the Sacrifice and the Answer may be the same that his was to his Son God will provide himself a Lamb. I would intreate you to read these Scriptures Mich. 2.7 10. Mich. 3.5 6 7. Mich. 4. the whole Chapter and that passage mentioned in Rom. 10.15 being compared with Isa 52.7 doth evidently declare that there is yet a further sending forth of the Messengers of Peace when the Sion of God shall awake and put on strength and Jerusalem the holy City shall put on beautiful garments Read Isa 52.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 and judge whether this be not a Gospel-Prophecie part whereof is yet unfulfilled And whether this be not the Apostles scope in the tenth of the Romans vers 14 15 and the whole eleventh Chapter to the Romans Onely while you say How shall this be The wisdome of Jehovah can bring this about Zeph. 3.8 9 10 12 13 14. When the time of the Lord is come wherein that great Angel shall lighten the earth with his glory Rev 18.1 and wherein the Angel shall flie in the midst of Heaven having the ancient Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth to every nation kindred and tongue and People Rev. 14.6 When the Lord of the Harvest seeing the fields white to the Harvest shall thrust forth labourers into his Harvest when his Angels or Messengers shall be sent forth to gather his elect from the four winds from one end of Heaven to the other The zeal of the Lord of Hosts shall perform this though we know not how Object Object If there be not a Ministery in the World What will become of the Faith of all such as believe in the Lord Jesus differenced and dishinguished under those several professions and known by those several appellations whereby men have named them Answ seeing the Scripture witnesseth that men cannot believe without a Preacher Rom. 10.41 Answ This Objection grounds it self upon an absurdity that will seem to follow upon the premises viz. If what hath been alleadged be true touching the Ministery How can this Scripture be true also which saith How can they believe on him of whom they have not heard And how shall they hear without a Preacher To solve which seeming-contradiction I desire the Reader to consider who that relative word they must be applied to And consequently what is the scope of the Apostles argument in this place For the understanding of which I conceive it will be necessary to read the ninth tenth and eleventh Chapters together and they will appear to be one continued Discourse or Argument whereby the Apostle Paul doth hold forth the state of the Jewes whom he calls his brethren his kinsmen according to the flesh Rom. 9.3 Now concerning these he begins all the three Chapters and shewes both their priviledges which they had by the Law Chap. 9.4 5. Their rejection through their non-submission to the righteousness of God Chap. 10.3 Their restitution when the fulness of the Gentiles is come in Chap. 11.25 to fulfil the Mystery of this dispensation of God by the appearing of the deliverer who shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob according to his Covenant Vers 25 26 27. Isa 59.20 21. These are that they which are mentioned in the 1 2 3 and 14 Verses of the tenth Chapter to the Romans touching whom the Apostle thus reasons Brethren my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved For I hear them record c. Object But blessed Apostle Object what ground of Faith is there in this prayer considering how they are rejected Answ The Scripture hath said Whosoever believeth in him Answ shall not be ashamed for there is no difference between the Iew and the Greek for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved Therefore they viz. the Jews if they call upon the Name of the Lord they shall be saved Onely the Question is How they shall call upon him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without out a Preacher and how shall they Preach except they be sent Therefore till there be a sending forth of Messengers even to the Jews quatenus Jews as well as there hath been to the Gentiles quâ such no wonder if they believe not For how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how can they hear without a Preacher and how can they Preach except they be sent Object Object But they have heard though they have not obeyed as appears Answ Rom. 10.16 18 21. Answ This may not be denied for Christ was sent first to the lost sheep of the house of Israel And he accordingly came unto his own and his own received him not But the consideration hereof makes the Mystery the greater Once God chose the family of Abraham before all the families of the earth and in Judah was God known and his Name famous in Israel He dealt not so with any other nation neither had they the knowledge of his Law Though afterwards when the fulness of time was come and the wall of partition broken down by the appearing of our Lord Jesus then the Mystery of Christ which in other ages was not made manifest was revealed to his holy Apostles and Prophets Eph. 3.5 6 by the Spirit which Mystery was That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel And the Jewes to whom the Gospel first was preached having put it from them Act. 13. ult and reckoned themselves unworthy of that salvation became the onely nation of all the world who were by the just hand of God concluded under blindness and hardness in part and so are to continue such a proportion of time as was fore-appointed and decreed Rom. 10.8 9 10 25. At the expiration and determination of which time there is to be a revelation of the Mystery of their breaking off and ingrafting in again Rom. 11 2◠and that to be done when the deliverer shall come out of Sion and shall turn away ungodliness from Iacob For as in times past the Gentiles believed not having not that opportunity of the knowledge of God as the Jews had yet at length obtained mercy through their unbelief Even so have these also now not believed that through their mercy they might obtain mercy Object But how is
the most High was pleased to manifest in the first ordering or disposing of the Administrations of the Jewish Church which he committed to the hands of some chosen and peculiar persons distinguished from others of the people to whom the like power was not committed as to Aaron and his Sons Exod. 28.1 2. And by then signal of his displeasure manifested against those who would not acknowledge it Num. 1 6. but confederated in the Conspiracy of Korah Now if the Lord took such care to set in order and keep right that house whereof Moses had the management viz. the Jewish Church and therefore called Moses his House and to establish its Ministery is it not as equal that the Lord Jesus should take the like care for his House viz. the Christian Church and provide for its Ministery and that as the former so the later should consist of persons peculiarly set apart and appointed thereunto This sort of reasoning from the Old to the New and from the Former to the Latter Dispensations the Apostle doth use by way of Equity many times to prove the matter whereabouts he was reasoning Doth God take care for Oxen If so then it is as equal at least that he should take care for such as labour and tread out the Corn under the Gospel But if this have not weight enough to prove the matter in question Secondly it may be evidenced from Scriptures that are direct as to this purpose That it was committed to certaine numbers of persons who from among many others were appointed and set apart for this work appeares from the Scriptures afore mentioned Mark 13. He called to him whom he would and they came unto him and he ordained twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them forth to preach of them which came unto him he ordained twelve And somewhat more plain doth Luke relate this action Luk. 6.13 He called to him his Disciples and of them he chose twelve whom also he named Apostles or Messengers or men sent out Now though this seeme to relate to them onely as to Preaching yet it is to be considered that to these very same individual persons thus chosen and called and set apart from others was the Commission given to Preach and Baptize Matth. 28.16 18 19. The eleven Disciples went away into Galilee and Jesus came and spake unto them saying c. Act. 10.41 42 Not to all the people but unto Witnesses chosen before of God even to us and he commanded us to Preach unto the people c. Now that they were ordained and appointed to serve as a Ministery it appears from the first Chapter of the Acts the second Verse compared with vers 17 and 25. Vntil the day in which he was taken up after that he through the Spirit had given commandment to the Apostles whom he had chosen And in vers 17 speaking of Judas saith He was numbred with us and had obtained part of this Ministery And in vers 25 it is said of Matthias That he may take part of this Ministery and Apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell away And the lot fell upon Matthias and he was numbred with the eleven Apostles or Messengers or men who were sent out to preach and baptize the Nations To the second What the nature of that Ministery was which the Lord Jesus appointed to succeed him in this service Besides what hath been spoken already the Scripture doth declare what plentiful provision the Lord of the Harvest made in point of a Ministery In Ephes 4.11 12 13 you have the Gospel-Ministery expressed both in their Names and Numbers their Nature and End in reference to their Use and Duration in the same Order and Degree which the God of Order hath placed them in For their Name and Number the reading of the eleventh Verse declares both For their nature and use it 's laid down either more generally in this term for the work of the Ministery or more particularly in these two Termes Viz. For the perfecting of the Saints For the edifying the body of Christ The duration of this Ministery was to be till we all came to the Unity of the Faith even all this whole Ministery so numbered and named as before who were all as well as any the fruit of Christ's Ascension The Gifts given to men for the work of the Ministery those were to abide as to Institution one as well as another one as long as another the one without the other not being perfect as in another case it 's said Heb. 11.40 As these were given to continue till we all came to the Unity of the Faith Ephes 4.13 so they were set in the Churches by Ordinance and establishment 1 Cor. 12.28 as that which was to continue But to return to the nature and use of this Ministery Viz. To perfect the Saints To edifie the body of Christ The Word which is here used To perfect the Saints will be read properly to perfect the number of the Saints as well as their graces 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ad coagmentationem Sanctorum vers 12. until there be not one Saint or Elect more to be added to the number It comes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod propriè de numero dicitur Or from the the Verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perfectum reddo vel omnibus numeris absolutum reddere The Translators have rendered it severally in several places Viz. to prepare Heb. 10.5 A body hast thou prepared me Rom. 9.22 Adapta ad interitum Fitted to destruction To restore or put in joint Luxata membra in locum restituere And so it is used in Gal. 6.1 Ye which are spititual restore such a one with the spirit of meekness 1 Cor. 1.10 Be ye perfectly knit together in the same minde Sitis compacti vel coadunati If some one member of a true Church should be overtaken with a fault and in that sence be out of joint the rest which are spiritual should restore i. e. put such a bone in joint againe But if many members should do the like and the whole prove dislocated and disjointed Who shall restore them to their former order againe but the hand of that Ministery by which they were adapted and fitted and first knit together For they were not onely given for this end that they might perfect the number of the Saints by fitting and preparing them and puting them in joynt and this act rendered as transient to pass away in the very acting or once doing but they are said to be set in the Church i. e. statuit aut determinavit the word is of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 2.6 Statuo in Sione lapidem Behold I lay i. e. set or appoint by an irrevocable decree in Sion a chiefe corner-stone Act. 13.47 Constituite c. I have set or appointed thee to be a light to the Gentiles Act. 1.7 It is not for you to know the times or
readiness to be admitted so the Church judging of his profession of Faith and fitness manifests her consent by receiving him in the Name of the Lord Jesus either by Baptism or without according as they have faith in that Particular I mean that Fellowship or Society which so admits him Now if this be the Method or Ordinary way of proceeding in a Church after it is gathered Is not the gathering of that Church in its first beginning to be supposed equivalent hereunto forasmuch as the same relation wherein one single believer doth stand with reference to a true Church rightly constituted so do a Company of Believers stand in relation to Christ in their first congregating into the Visible Order of a Church-estate Which may be thus demonstrated Christ is the Bridegroom The Church is the Bride the Lamb's wife A company of Believers are supposed to be made willing by the power of Light and Love to be married to Christ and to put on that Conjugal-Yoke of visible Churchship wherein they may manifest their obedience to him subjecting themselves to such Ordinances and Appointments of his as are commanded touching that particular But to whom shall they make manifest this their willingness Who shall supply the room of the Bridegroom Or who is the Bridegroom's friend that can Ministerially declare Christ's acceptance of these Believers to become his Church his Wife and he to become their Bridegroom their Husband their Lord their Law-giver giving them power to sit upon Thrones for him to open and shut a door for him to binde and to loose in his Name and Power Believers I conceive can no more in this case give their own consents and Christ's too then a particular believer that would be joyned to a Visible Church can give his own consent and the Churches too Therefore as the true Church doth Ministerially contain in her self the state of power to binde and loose to open and shut in Christ's Name to signifie his consent and in his Name to receive or not receive the person who pretends to or assays to be joyned to her so is it seriously to be considered who did at first Ministerially supply the room of the Bridegroom who did at first judge of these Believers fitness or who did in Christ's Name accept of them as they do in Christ's Name accept of others that desire to joyn to them That the true Visible Church is the Spouse the Bride the Wife of the Lord Jesus these Scriptures among others witness Cant. 4.8 Eph. 5.32 Rev. 21.9 That the consent between Christ and his Church at first was acted Ministerially by such as himself had designed for that purpose viz. to accept of the believers consent on their part and to espouse them to Christ and that this was effected by that Ministery which was wont to precede and go before the Church and its feeding Ministery appears from the consideration of these Scriptures 1 Cor. 4.15 For in Christ Jesus have I begotten you through the Gospel 2 Cor. 5.29 We pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God And as this Ministery was thus instrumental towards their personal conversion so was it also touching their Visible Admission into their Espoused i. e. Church-estate For not onely did they in Christ's stead beseech them to be reconciled to God but also did receive them being so reconciled 2 Cor. 11.2 the Apostle Paul testifieth touching the Church of Corinth that he did espouse that Church to one husband that he might present it a chaste Virgin to Christ And of the Churches of Macedonia it is said in 2 Cor. 8.5 that they gave their own selves first unto the Lord and unto us by the will of God All that this Discourse intends is but to put persons whose spirits can bear it upon the consideration how they became a Church at first And whether that the practice of the present Churches doth not justly occasion that enquiry forasmuch as the reason is the same that the first Beginners of a Church have as much necessity of some person or persons Ministerially deputed by Christ to try and to accept of them as well as for them afterwards to try and judge and accept of others in the Name and Authority of Christ who desire to be added to them The consideration of which may serve for Answer to that part of the Question which concerns the present Churches That forasmuch as it is not demonstrable that the present Churches have been so constituted by persons Ministerially deputed on Christ's part to whom they might give up themselves Visibly as well as unto the Lord and by whom they might Visibly and Ministerially have the Lord's consent manifested to them as they themselves now manifest it to those which would be added to them but that they reckon it sufficient to be made free and willing in themselves and without any Visible or Ministerial Authority to try and judge one another and to accept of one another in Christ's Name and stead and so become a Church contrary to their own after-practice towards others Seems to be altogether without president from the Word of God and consequently are not to be acknowledged for the true Visible constituted Churches of Christ according to the Primitive Pattern To the second branch of the Question touching the present Ministery Quest Whether they are to be acknowledged the Ministery of Christ according to the first Pattern Besides what hath been spoken already it may be further added Answ That a Ministery of Jesus Christ may be considered Immediately or Mediately such either as coming of that Apostolical Race who had their call immediately from Christ as the first Messengers had Matth. 10.1 2. Matth. 28.16 18 19 c. Gal. 1.1 12 Paul an Apostle or a Messenger or a man sent out not of men neither by man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father And these in the Scriptures are properly called Ministers of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 4.1 Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God Now for a man to be a Minister of Christ in this sence requires to have an immediate call and sending forth with gifts sutable to such a Ministery Mark 16.15 20 Go ye forth into all the world and preach the Gospel to every Creature And they went forth and preached everywhere the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signes following Act. 1.4 5 8 And being assembled with them i.e. the Apostles whom he had chosen Vers 2. commanded them that they should not depart from Hierusalem but wait for the promise of the Father Vers 4. For ye shall be Baptized with the holy Spirit not many dayes hence Vers 5 Ye shall receive power after that the holy Spirit is come upon you and ye shall be Witnesses unto me c. Vers 8. Which was accordingly performed on God's part for they did receive the promise of the Father Act. 2.1 2 3
and did perform their part in the subsequent part of the Chapter and History of the Acts. Act. 14.23 Act. 6.3 5 6 8 10. Tit. 1.5 Secondly There is a Ministery of Christ which is not so immediate but more mediate and they were such as whom the Apostles in the behalf and by the suffrage or the election of the Churches did ordain and to whom they did delegate the power and authority of Jesus Christ for the work of the Ministery in the Churches And in his Name and power such gifts were bestowed as might fit those persons for the work whereunto they were chosen and ordained Act. 6.6 2 Tim. 1.6 These though it be not to be denied but they are to be accounted the Ministers of Christ because they are indeed his by appointment and institution yet they are such more mediately and the Churches more immediately whose also they are and out of whom and for whose sake they were immediately chosen and appointed while the other Ministery were to travel abroad and to fulfill their Ministery towards the World for which work they were Commissioned Mar. 16.15 Go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel to every creature This distinction is grounded upon these Scriptures 1 Cor. 4.1 Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God 2 Cor. 8.23 If any enquire of these they are the Apostles of the Churches or as we have it translated they are the Messengers of the Churches and the Glory of Christ Philip. 2.25 I suppose it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother but your Apostle If a person do entitle himself a Minister of Christ he must profess himself to be so under one of these two considerations If he be one of the first sort his Call must be immediate from the Bridegroom the Lord Jesus and his gifts and qualifications must be sutable to his work a powerful enabling to go forth to the World If he be one of the later sort his Call must be from the Bridegroom's friends the Apostles or an Apostolical Ministery Act. 14.23 compared with vers 14 of the same Chapter When the Apostles Barnabas and Paul Vers 23 when they i. e. the Apostles had ordained them Elders in every Church Tit. 1.5 For this cause I left thee in Cret that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting and ordaine Elders in every City as I had appointed thee Or else the call of this later sort must be from the Bride her self in whose custody was left the power of all Administrations 1 Cor. 11.2 I praise you brethren that you keep the Ordinances as I delivered them to you And sutable to this Call whether it be by the Bridegroom's friends or by the Bride her self must be the gifts bestowed If Paul do lay hands on Timothy and separate him to the work of the Ministery the Lord confers upon him thereby some gift which he had not before and such a gift to which he is to give attendance Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands 2 Tim. 1.6 If the Church by her Presbytery for so some will have that place to be understood do lay hands on Timothy it is not an empty and bare Ceremony but such an action as wherein God appears conferring by way of gift somewhat which was not before and this likewise is to be attended to Neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by Prophecie with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery Now the Ministery of these times being compared and considered will appear neither called nor qualified according to the Primitive Patterns Friends of the Bridegroom in the first sence they are not as being immediately sent out from him with an Apostolical Mission or Embassage furnished to wooe and win the Nations to represent the person of the Bridegroom and to be as in his stead beseeching men to be friends with God intreating them to be reconciled to him Their want of the heavenly Furniture of power from on high for this work of the Ministery doth evidence the truth hereof Secondly Nor are they called and sent out by the friends of the Bridegroom either by Apostles Evangelists or Prophets who had their Call and Mission from Christ Forasmuch as they acknowledge no such Ministery now extant but say it was temporary and extraordinary though it be not demonstrable from Scripture when the Entail was cut off or such a Ministery to cease according to designation or appointment Thirdly Nor is it so evident as it is imagined that they have a true Visible Call from the Bride her self a true Visible Constituted Church of Christ who hath been her self first espoused to him visibly and Ministerially by some person or persons hereunto deputed and designed as the Church of Corinth was 2 Cor. 11.2 according to the first established visible Order by Faith and Baptism But from a Company of well-minded people who reading the Scriptures and observing what is spoken touching the Ministery its usefulness and necessity judge it also necessary lawful and expedient to chuse out from among themselves or others some such person as they best approve of to go before them and administer to them and this is accounted a true Call to the Ministery Whereas it would be first enquired Where the Scripture doth in any place give power to a people how holy how godly soever to give a true visible Call to the Ministery themselves not first being visibly and Ministerially a constituted Church of Christ and so his Spouse his Wife according to the Primitive Pattern Whose power how far it extends after she is espoused I dispute not but seriously enquire after the actions of power which are performed by any people before they are visibly espoused and consequently impowered thereunto Hence I conceive it is that this being practised the one giving the other accepting the Call of the Ministery without questioning the Power of either it may without offence be said that a Powerless People give Call to a Giftless Ministery for as they have not power so they confer not any who for lack of Gifts study to acquire Arts wherein also having attained they therein exercise themselves the wisdom of God suffering it to be so that they should style themselves Masters of Arts. But in the beginning it was not so For when the gifts of God could not be bought nor sold and consequently not appropriated to the gain or profit of the Possessor then must Humane Arts be invented which darken the Sun and the Air and the gifts of God exploded and called extraordinary because they too much resemble the heavenly Manna of old a food which proved too dry for the growing interest of that time which the most High beholding withheld and suffered not that blessed and heavenly dew to fall But contrariwise suffered them
voyce with one accord and said Lord thou art the God c. The Company lift up their voyce as well as Peter and John for it was done by them all with one accord And in Vers 30 31 when they had prayed the place was shaken where they were assembled together and they were all filled with the holy Spirit and spake the word of God with boldness Thirdly That they go forth with a power and presence of Jesus Christ to the World as Christ had promised to afford to those first Messengers Matth. 28.20 Lo I am with you and accordingly did accompany their Message for it's confirmation Mar. 16.20 The Lord working with them confirming the Word with Signes following Which he also did manifest to Philip Act. 8.5 6 7 who confirmed his word by the miracles which he did which is not said of the rest of the Dispersion who Evangelized or as we read it Preached the Word To all which this may againe be remembred That no person did ever go forth and Preach to the World the Gospel of Christ sincerely in the Term that here is used viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but was enabled to confirm that Word by the visible presence of the Lord Jesus viz. by Signes and Miracles according to Matth. 28.20 Mark 16. to the end And on the contrary I read not that any which did Evangelize the Lord Jesus to the World either upon occasion of their dispersion or otherwise were so enabled to confirm their Doctrine the Apostles onely excepted who did Preach as well as Evangelize or rather did indeed preach the Evangel according to that which is spoken of Christ himself Luk. 8.1 And these as they did preach by Command and Authority so they were enabled to confirm that Authority by a visible presence of Christ with them Vt supra The Brethren therefore who urge these Scriptures for their Warrant for Preaching and Baptizing one another being measured by this pattern I conceive their disparity will be apparent if it be but friendly and candidly considered and may somewhat abate the displeasure which seems to be taken against those who cannot practise as they do for the Reasons before alleadged Object Object Paul saith of himself that Christ sent him not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel Intimating that to Baptize is inferiour to preaching Therefore they which may do the greater may do the less Answ Answ That the Apostle Paul did Baptize as well as Preach is evident from the same Scripture 1 Cor. 1. where he saith he baptized Crispus and Gaius and the houshold of Stephanus and this he did not without Authority the speech therefore of the Apostle in saying Christ sent me not to Baptize but to Preach is rather to be taken Comparatively then Positively not so much to Baptize as to Preach according to that saying in Joh. 6.27 Labour not for the me at that perisheth but for the meat which endureth unto everlasting life Which expression if it were Positive that men were not to labour for the meat which perisheth how should that be understood of the Apostle which exhorts to labour Ephes 1.4 28. 2 Thes 3.10 This we commanded you that if any man would not work he should not eat Besides the example of himself Act. 20.34 35. Nor may it be therefore urged that because the Apostle useth this speech comparatively that therefore Baptisme must be an Ordinance or Appointment of the Lord Jesus inferiour to Preaching for it would be inquired Where this distinction of Superiority and inferiority hath it's rise and foundation among the Institutions of Christ and particularly between these two viz. Preaching and Baptizing the rather considering that to whom and at what time he gave the command touching Preaching to them and at that time he gave the other touching Baptizing Matth. 28.18 19 20. From whence this Conclusion hath been drawn formerly and as I conceive according to truth That they which have power and authority to Preach have likewise power and authority to Baptize Not from this Reason because that having power to do the greater viz. Preaching therefore they have power to do the less viz. Baptizing for this is a distinction made by some men but not countenanced by the holy Scripture But rather in asmuch as the Lord Jesus did at one and the same time to one and the self-same persons give command that they should both preach and baptize and that by vertue of the power given to him thence it follows most evidently that to them to whom power was given to Preach to them also was authority given to Baptize else the Apostle Paul had wanted authority for the baptizing of them he did baptize or that he had no other then this viz. that because he might do the greater which was to preach therefore he might do the less which was to Baptize Which Conclusion as it is not clear so it is not safe because it is not found in Scripture To which may be added these few words which offer themselves rather for a friendly trial then for a positive assertion The Apostle Paul witnesseth of himself that he was one of the least of the Apostles and was as one born out of due time 1 Cor. 15.8 9. Now it is to be observed that to the Eleven was the command given to baptize the Nations in express termes Matth. 28. We do not read that the same command was in so many words laid upon him when he was called and sent forth by the Lord Jesus In that he did baprize any one it was not of his own head for he had the minde of Christ 1 Cor. 2.16 who gave to his Ambassadours or Messengers not onely power to preach but authority to baptize also Matth. 28.19 And in that he was not more frequent in baptizing or baptized no more he was not thereunto so especially sent as the former who had the command in express words He had it onely in Authority and therefore upon occasion did exercise and perform it They had it not onely in Authority but also in Command therefore they must perform it and might not omit it they being sent in an especial manner thereunto This kinde of reasoning the Apostle gives occasion for in another case touching the exercise of his Ministery whereas he testifieth of himself in a especial manner that he was an Apostle of the Gentiles and therein did magnifie his office Rom. 11.13 and that unto Peter was committed the Apostleship of the Circumcision Gal. 2. 7 8 9 as unto him the Gospel of Vncircumcision And this distribution was very eminent yet not so but that Peter might preach to the Gentiles as Paul also did to the Jews as appeareth by his frequent preaching in the Synagogues Act. 13. ult c. Whence may be concluded Though the Apostle Paul had a particular Mission to the Gentiles whose Ambassadour or Apostle he particularly was yet he also might preach to the Jews where-ever they were and that without
sin which accordingly he did as many places testifie So although the same Apostle when he was at first called had not an express Command touching Baptism as the Eleven had in so many words yet nevertheless he wanted not sufficient Authority for to baptize those whom he did baptize without degrading this Ordinance and making of it inferiour to Preaching as this Objection would infer from the Apostle's speech when he saith Christ sent me not to baptize but to evangelize Which inference being inforced as a consequence needs a proof from Scripture before it can impose belief upon any person Object Object When Christ gave power and authority to the eleven Disciples to teach all nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father Son and holy Spirit he added Matth. 28.20 Lo I am with you all the days even unto the end of the world How is this Scripture fulfilled if there be not a Ministery continued to the end of the world Answ Answ This command of Christ to his Apostles and this promise of his presence with them to the end of the world must be considered as being made to those eleven individual persons or else with such others as were to succeed them in that work of Ministery teaching the Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father Son and holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things whatsoever Christ had commanded them First If it respecteth the Eleven onely then there must be another understanding of those words The end of the world then is most commonly received for according to the common acceptation of the end of the world taking it for the utmost and extremest part of time so it could not be applied to the Apostles personally who lived not to see the end of the world in that sence according to that Scripture Zech. 1.5 Your fathers where are they the Prophets do they live forever Secondly If it respect a Succession of Ministery it must be either an Apostolical National Ministery for breeding the Church or a Pastoral Congregational Ministery for feeding the Church or both Now that this Succession of Ministery in both or either of these kindes is not so visible as it 's commonly judged hath been already proved and needs not again be repeated Nor doth it hence follow that any imputation of unfaithfulness should be fixed upon the most righteous God as if he must needs be rendered unrighteous unless there be a continuation of Ministery either Apostolical or Pastoral because that he hath said that they teaching the Nations to observe whatsoever he had commanded c. lo he was with them all the days to the end of the world And that this may the more clearly appear consider what is spoken touching Eli and his house in 2 Sam. 2.30 to the end I said that thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me for ever i. e. in the Priesthood Exod. 28.1 41 43. Exod. 40.13 14 15. But now the Lord saith Be it far from me for them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed God had promised Aaron and his seed after him and that by a Statute for ever the execution of the Priests office Exod. 40.15 yet there was implied in this promise this condition that they should continue to honour God in that Administration And though this was not exprest it was ever understood as is evident de facto in the case of Nadab and Abihu Levit. 10. who for offering with strange fire which the Lord commanded them not were devoured by fire from the Lord. Levit. 10.3 And Moses said This is that the Lord said I will be sanctified in all them that come nigh me and before all the people will I be glorified And Aaron held his peace The like manner of God's proceedings doth appear in express terms in the case of Eli and his sons in the place before alleadged though God had said touching him and his father's house that they should walk before him for ever 1 Sam. 2.30 and yet doth there say Behold I will cut off thine arm and the arm of thy fathers house And the man of thine which I shall not cut off from my altar shall be to consume thine eyes and to grieve thy heart And he that is left in thy house shall say Put me I pray thee into one of the Priests offices that I may eat a piece of bread Which was accordingly fulfilled in the next Chapter and in 1 Kings 2.27 The Lord gives the reason of this seeming-contradiction why he should say of Eli and of his father's house that they should walk before him in the Priesthood for ever and yet doth also declare and accordingly accomplish that the Continuation or Succession shall be cut off as it was from the posterity of Eli and likewise from the line of Aaron before the time of the expiration of the Mosaical dispensation The reason of this the Lord expresseth in these words But now be it far from me for them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed Though with respect to the Eternal condition of believers the foundation of God stands sure having this seal The Lord knows who are his 2 Tim. 2.19 and that there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 and though neither life nor death nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor any other creature shall be able to separate a believer from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus Rom. 8. ult forasmuch as the Father which gave them to Christ is greater then all and none shall be able to pluck them out of the Fathers hands Joh. 10.28 29. nay sin it self shall not be able to have dominion over them Rom. 6.14 Rom. 7.25 26. Yet with respect to any External condition which may befal them how eminently-glorious soever it may be and what promise soever may be made unto it yet the Equity of this condition is implied if not expressed that the person to whom such promise of External blessing or presence is made are engaged to walk with God to be found honouring of God c. Upon this is the Entail to be reckoned and God no longer can in faith be expected to perform his part then such a person or people are found faithful with God on their part He that honours me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 2.30 31 c. 1 Chron. 28.7 9 If thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever Which forsaking and casting off are expounded in Psal 89.30 31 32 33 34 If his children forsake my law and walk not in my judgements I will visit their transgressions with the rod and their iniquity with stripes nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail And in 2
7.19 20 21 22 and had accordingly effected in process of time as appears in the Captivity by Zedekiah and in the Lamentations Chap. 2.6 7. He hath violently taken away his tabernacle as a garden he hath destroyed his palaces of the assembly the Lord hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Sion and despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priests the Lord hath cast off his altar he hath abhorred his sanctuary he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces they have made a noise in the house of the Lord as in the day of a solemn feast Notwithstanding which dealing of his towards them he caused them to return at the time appointed to build their walls and to restore their Worship according to the Word which he had spoken by his holy Prophets because as yet the full time was not come wherein the Entail was to be cut off from this people That which I would have observed in this Circumlocution is this Viz. First That although God had promised that his eyes and his heart should be upon that house which Solomon had built perpetually yet that time was a prefixt and limited time Secondly That before the time limited wherein there was to be a cessation of the Temple and Temple-Worship there was a Discontinuance as to the enjoyment and exercise of it which befel that people through their transgressions and sin insomuch that it may be said They sinned themselves into a difuse of their Mercy which befel them for a time during their Captivity till their restoration Thirdly That whereas it was by divine intendment that at the time appointed the daily sacrifice should cease the Temple-work and Worship should be at an end of which expiration God himself would be the author and procurer yet these people beforehand by their sins procured themselves a Separation Banishment and Captivity for the space of seventy yeers though then at the end thereof God graciously returned their Captivity So would I that it were considered touching the promise of our Lord Jesus to the Apostles or to the Christian Ministery Lo I am with you all the days unto the end of the world First That there is a time limited for the continuation of his presence with them as a Ministery at which time there is to be a cessation thereof as to a Ministery when the work for which the Ministery was given is fulfilled according to Eph. 4.11 12.13 14. and this according to divine purpose and fore-appointment of God Till we all come to the unity of the faith c. Secondly That it 's possible for the Successors of the Apostles in the work of their Ministery to make shipwrack of faith and a good conscience to prove false Teachers and privily to bring in damnable doctrines and through covetousness to make merchandice of men proving spots and blemishes sporting themselves with their own deceivings having eyes full of adultery that cannot cease from sin beguiling unstable souls exercised with covetous practices cursed children which have forsaken the right way and gone astray following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor who loved the wages of unrighteousness Nay all this the holy Apostles of our Lord did foretel should be as may particularly be instanced in the Epistles of Paul Peter Jude and this iniquity began to work in a Mystery before the Apostles left the earth and afterwards mightily prevailed as the History of time will evidence and most eminently that learned Discourse of Master Mede called The Apostacie of the last times and Clappam's Brief upon the Bible and became as that Scripture saith Isa 28.8 The priests and the prophets erred through strong drink they are swallowed up of wine they are out of the way through strong drink They erre in vision they stumble in judgement for all tables are full of vomit and filthiness there is no place clean And this will be found to have been the condition of the Ministery soon after the Apostles time and so forward ever since that pretended Vicar of Christ that false Vice-Christ hath as God set himself in the temple of God and hath sent forth his Angels Messengers or Apostles viz. Nuntio's Cardinals Legats and what not whereby he hath darkened the counsel of God by feigned and devised words and Ministeries From which we may expect to be delivered when the most High shall send his great Angel to enlighten the earth with his glory The fields being now grown almost white to the harvest the Lord of the harvest will in mercy to the ignorance of his poor people thrust forth labourers into the harvest Oh turn again our Captivity also as the rivers of the south who are fallen under a disuse of our mercy our first Ministery which our Lord ascending on high gave as gifts to men for the perfecting the number of the Saints and edifying the body of Christ which though discontinued because of our and our forefathers sins yet may be restored to us again when we are brought to see a want of them and can cry unto God for them Isai 30.18 19 20 The Lord is a God of judgement blessed are all they that wait for him And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more but thine eyes shall see thy teachers But whom shall he teach knowledge and whom shall he cause to understand doctrine Them that are weaned from the milk and drawn from the brests Isa 28.9 Therefore as in the former times there hath been a discontinuance of the true Ministery for a long season by reason of transgression yet may there be a glorious restoration thereof also in God's due time For as the Apostacie began at the Ministery both in the former and later times as is witnessed by the Apostle 2 Pet. 2 There were false prophets among the people even as there shall be false teachers among you who shall privily bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift damnation And yet from the former the Lord in his good pleasure set his people of old free For these reasons why may it not also be hoped that in due time he will again return in mercy and visit the dark corners of the earth causing the people that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death to hear the joyful sound that they may walk in the light of his countenance The rather considering that the Ministery was given to continue till the number of the Saints were perfected Eph. 4.12 or as the former Translation renders it For the gathering together of the Saints Now if the number of the Saints be not perfected nor their gathering together compleated How is the end for which Christ ascended and for which he gave gifts to men accomplished if the work of the Ministery be not again restored unto
its pristine and primitive Constitution as well to respect the Nations which are without viz. the out-casts of Israel together with those worshippers of the Sun and Moon the Moors and Indians and the people that know not God nor have ever heard the sound of him nor of the salvation which through Christ Jesus he holds forth to Mankinde as well as that sort of Ministery which it 's supposed is found among good people who judge they are in Church-estate already though indeed they are both but the fruit of the same ascension and both respect the same end Ministery and duration or continuance For as the Saints already such are not come to a perfect man in Christ and therefore have need of an edifying feeding Ministery so the number of them which are to be gathered are likewise not compleated and therefore need a gathering and breeding Ministery the one without the other being not perfect especially the later not without the former Forasmuch as the Ministery for the World as it was first given namely to the Apostles in these words Go ye into all the world or Teach all nations so it was comprehensive and took in the later and stood sometimes without it they holding out the brest of consolation and confirmation to those to whom they had been as a womb parental or instrumental in conversion Therefore in a return of mercy as in point of Ministery it would be considered Whether the first Apostolical and National Ministery be not again to be looked for hoped for and longed for and prayed for and that by way of eminency not onely for Sion's sake and for Jerusalem's sake but also for the Nations sakes the Kindreds Tongues Peoples those who know not God considering that there is a time wherein John having eaten the book was to prophesie again before many people and nations and tongues and kings Rev. 10. ult And the Angel which he saw flying in the midst of heaven was to preach the ancient Gospel to every nation kindred tongue and people And this was to follow Antichrist's universal over-spreading of the earth for after he had prevailed so far as to cause all both small and great rich and poor bond and free to receive his mark and that no man might buy or sell but he that had received the mark and that all the world wondered after the Beast Rev. 13.3 16 17. after this great power and prevalencie of Antichrist then should the ancient Gospel be preached to every nation kinred tongue and people that dwell upon the earth Rev. 14.6 and then should follow the fall of Babylon v 8 there followed another Angel saying Babylon is fallen is fallen and this should be that Angel Rev. 18.1 2 which should come down from heaven with great power and enlighten the earth with his glory and should cry mightily with a strong voice saying Babylon the great is fallen according to that of the Apostle 2 Thess 2.8 Then shall that wicked be revealed whom God shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming And whether this be not that Ministery which the Lord will send forth to gather his chosen ones from the four corners of the windes Mar. 13. forasmuch as after that the false Christs and false Prophets shall arise and shall shew their seducing signes and wonders to deceive if it were possible the very elect vers 22. and that great tribulation shall happen the sun darkned and the moon not give her light Then shall the Son of man come in the clouds with great power and glory and shall send his Angels or Messengers and shall gather together his elect from the utmost parts of the earth From all which it were to be desired that the Lord would stir up the hearts of his people to cry mightily to him and give him no rest till he accomplish the work of gathering together his number out of all Nations Kindreds Tongues and Peoples the utmost parts of the Heathen being given to Christ as his peculiar inheritance Psal 2.8 and because from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same God's name shall be great among the Gentiles Mal. 1.11 Object Object If this be true which hath been spoken then we must expect more Apostles but it is said in 1 Cor. 4.9 that those were the last Apostles Therefore there can be no ground to expect any more Answ Answ 1. That Scripture concludes not against what hath been spoken as will appear when it is examined The word which is rendered there last 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is in Luke 14.9 taken for the lowest or meanest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding go sit down in the lowest room And this signification of the word may very well agree with that which is the Argument of this Chapter 1 Cor. 4.9 and so it seems to be carried I think God hath set forth us the Apostles last i. e. lowest or vilest as it were men appointed to death For we are made a spectacle unto the world to Angels and men We are fooles for Christs sake but ye are wise We are made the filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things to this day Let it be considered whether all these several expressions do not more properly agree to the word as it is rendered the lowest or basest then to the word last Apostles Secondly If the word he to be taken for the last yet it doth not necessarily inforce it self to be understood of the last of what shall be but the last of what hath been therefore it is rendred novissimus the newest as our English Dialect will infer the last garment or newest garment are Synonimaes In 2 Pet. 2.20 it 's rendered not last but later And 1 Pet. 1.20 speaking of Christ it 's said He was made manifest in the last dayes Heb. 1.2 it 's said In these last dayes God hath spoken unto us by his Sonne Which last dayes may not be so understood as if they were so the last that there were no more dayes to succeed them for there hath been sixteen hundred years of dayes since that time past and gone neither may I conceive those Apostles were the last or so the last Apostles that there should no more come after them understanding them to be Messengers sent forth as the term Apostle imports for then I would inquire By whom should the out casts of Israel be gathered or the Nations converted to the faith of Christ Jer. 32.37 38. Jer. 23.3 Mar. 13.10 Matth. 24.14 If there be any Nations of the World Kindreds Tongues and People to whom the Gospel hath not been sent it must be done to fulfill the Word of the Lord. And by whom shall it be done but by such Messengers which shall be endued with like power of Evidence and Demonstration both of Tongues and Gifts as the first Messengers or Apostles had to preach
this to be effected Object Answ By means of the preaching of those whom God in his holy and blessed time will send out for this work For Answ how shall they call on him of whom they have not heard as the natural Jews have not though their forefathers some of them did and for their disobedience were rejected And how shall they hear without a preacher and how shall they preach except they be sent As it is written How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of them which preach the Gospel Which passage of Scripture however it hath been applied to that publication of the Gospel which hath had its course among the Gentiles yet the Apostle here makes a special application thereof to the sending forth of that Ministery which is to accomplish this work forasmuch as that which is to accompany its administration is something which hath not as yet been performed and which hath a peculiar fulfilling in the Calling of the Jews as almost the whole Chapter from whence the Apostle fetcheth this passage will evince if the Scripture it self be examined Isai 52.7 Read vers 1 2 5 6 7 8 9 10. Well might the Apostle therefore say Isa 25.7 How can they hear without a preacher forasmuch as the time neither then was nor appears yet to be come wherein those Messengers that are appointed to bring them that glad tidings after their long Captivity in blindness and hardness under which they for a time were to continue to fulfil the Word of the Lord Rom. â—â— 2â— But when the full time is accomplished and that the Deliverer is come to Sion or out of Sion Oh then how beautiful upon the mountains will be the feet of the Apostles or Messengers to whom shall be revealed this Mystery which hath been so long hid but shall then be made manifest and by whom the glad tidings thereof shall be published among those who till this time have not heard thereof and consequently could not believe Not as if no man Jew or Gentile could hear of God and Christ and things of heaven so as to believe to salvation without a special sending of some person or persons to preach unto them as a Minister viz. an Apostle Prophet or Pastor but that it could not be expected that the Nation of the Jews who through their unbelief had been broken off that they should be restored again and become one sheepfold with the Gentiles through believing and the Mystery hereof be accomplished and revealed without a Preacher i. e. those Messengers whose feet were to be beautiful in publishing the glad tidings thereof and which should have its accomplishment in its season Secondly And that this may the more manifestly appear to relate to a special sending of such as hath been spoken of the phrase of speech used in the fifteenth Verse of the tenth Chapter to the Romanes may somewhat help to evince Where it may be observed that the two especial phrases of speech which import Authoritative Sending 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Preaching 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are used both for the sending and preaching of those Messengers which are there mentioned by the Apostle whereas it will be found in the Scripture that in the days of the first Ministery when it was on foot in the world that Faith was not so tied to a Ministery or to one so especially sent as this Scripture holds forth sending in the terms of it as that the Faith could not be true where the Preaching and Sending was not such i. e. Authoritative To say nothing of Cornelius that devout Souldier and Captaine of the Italian band of whom the blessed Witness of Truth testifies That he feared God with all his house and gave alms to the people and prayed to God alwayes whose prayers and alms the Angel testifieth were come up for a memorial before God Now God heareth not sinners Joh. 9.31 And in the ninth of the Acts it 's noted of Paul after he had seen the Lord in the way in the eleventh vers Behold he prayeth which was an evidence of his conversion Yet this Cornelius did before any Ministery that we read of had made known the minde of the Lord unto him as afterward it did in the conclusion of that Chapter But I refer this to the exercise of a free minde to consider of Friendly and Christian communication There be other cases besides this of Cornelius which may give light to this thing The Faith of the Samaritans who believed upon the report of the woman communicating to them her experiences touching the Messiah owns it self to no such Ministery as the Objection imports and holds forth as the story will easily make appear when it is read Ioh. 4. the Lord Jesus having spoken to her heart and shewed her the corruption thereof in telling her she had had five husbands and he whom she now had was not her husband a thing which she knew very well already this extorts from her an acknowledgment that he was a Prophet Vers 18. but more begot more in conclusion she left the water-pot and went into the City and communicated her experience to the people thereof men and women Come see a man that told me all that ever I did Is not this the Christ The effect of which declaration of hers was such as it not onely if at all prevailed with the people of that City to come to him that by seeing him they might believe but to believe and so come to see as themselves testifie Verse 39 40 41 42. The Apostle mentions as another meanes of conversion A gratious Conversation 1 Cor. 7.16 A holy and chaste conversation compared with the first of Peter 3.1 For what knowest thou O Wife whether thou shalt save thy husband 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Convertes ad fidem Christianam It is the same word which is used in Matth. 1.21 Salvabit populum suum à peccatis eorum He shall save his people from their sinnes Which saving of the husband by the wife the Apostle Peter in 1 Pet. 3.1 2 appropriates instrumentally to her chaste conversation Likewise ye wives be in subjection to your own husbands that if any obey not the Word they also may without the Word be won by the conversation of the wives while they behold your chast conversation with feare I have observed touching the conversion of Paul Immediate Revelation that it was effected by immediate revelation Act. 9.6 11 compared with Gal. 1.12 16. Ephes 3.3 And though the Lord Jesus preacht unto him in the way yet he did it by himself without such instruments as at that time he had appointed and placed in the world for the working Faith and Conversion By all which it appeares that however it is our duty to attend to such means as God hath appointed when and where they way be injoyed yet himself is not bound so to work by them as that he cannot work besides them and without
to the Nations in their proper Language Therefore this Scripture rightly understood is not of force against what hath been said Object The Scriptures of the Apostles Object they may in a sence be called the Apostles And as the Apostle spake to the Corinthians If I be not an Apostle to others yet I am one to you so of their Writings If they be not Apostles to others to whom they are not come yet they are so to them to whom they are come Answ Ans Their Writings may be called Apostles in a figure as Isaiah was a Prophet to the Eunuch into whose hands his Prophecie came Act. 8.30 but as he needed one to guide him to understand that Prophet so do we stand in need of a guide to understand the Apostles in their writings And that God who was pleased to send his Messenger to the Eunuch to instruct him and to cause him to understand what he read may in his due time send out his Messengers againe in the Power and Spirit of the former to open to us not onely Moses but Christ and his Apostles whose writings we have but seen them as he who saw men walking like trees or as the Eunuch did the Prophecie of Isaiah before it was expounded If it were but in the heart of Gods People to mistrust their own understanding and but to see need to cry out to the Lord to restore the ancient Gospel and to send out those Messengers which are to Preach to the World his fear and worship according to Rev. 14.6 7 to discover Babylon and mightily to call out his People from thence and to lead to Sion it would not be long before some great thing might be accomplished But while we are apt to think we can do these things of our selves without any farther help no marvel that as yet deliverance comes not Oh if the Lord of the harvest must be sought to finde labourers and to thrust them forth and if he will be enquired of for this to do it why do the Lords remembrancers keep silence and give him any rest till he make Hierusalem a praise in the earth till he build up Sion and gather her stones out of the rubbish of Babylons confusions Object Object But whatever may be pretended for a necessity of a Ministery to the World yet Paul took care for the Ordinances and Ministery of the Churches when he gave Timothy instructions how to behave himself in the Church of the living God and gave him a command to commit that which he had taught him to faithful men who might be able to teach others also 2 Tim. 1.2 Answ Answ It is most certaine he did so and by this place and many others appeares the plentiful provision the Lord made for the Churches in point of Ordinances so far as concerned the rules and laws of Worship Act. 20. from Vers 17 to the 32. 1 Cor. 11.2 23. 1 Cor. 7.17 1 Cor. 14.37 2 Tim. 2.1 2 and almost thorowout those Epistles But though he were faithful in appointing the rules for Worship and giving Laws thereof and committing the same to Timothy and by him to faithful men that they should teach others also yet how treacherous they would in after-times prove to those Rules and Laws of Worship is likewise Prophesied of and foretold which should befal the Christian Churches Act. 20.29 30. 2 Tim. 4.3 4. 2 Pet. 2. Jud. 17.18 and this Apostacy was actually begun in the Apostles dayes 2 Thess 2.7 1 Joh. 2.18 1 Joh. 4.1 and in the dayes of the first Churches Rev. Chap. 2. and 3. which Apostacy was grown to be universal in Chap. 13. ult And how universal it was they that will take pains to compare the History of times may finde to their astonishment Object Object But suppose the Apostacy were every way such as hath been spoken May not the People of the Lord who are the Saints of the most High the Kings and Priests of God Rev. 1.6 Rev. 5.10 may not Believers now being Kings by Jesus Christ restore the Worship and set up the Ordinances of Christ as well as Josiah the King did who set up and repaired what the former evill Kings had broken down and destroyed 2 King 22. Answ The building the House Answ and appointing the Laws and Order of the House of God was by him committed First to Moses Exod. 39.32 42 43 who was Prince of the People the first Kingly Magistrate and he who received from the Lord the pattern of his House and the Laws thereof and he was a Type of Christ Next to him Joshuah renewed the Covenant of the Lord with the People at the Commandment of the Lord Josh 5. from the second verse to the ninth Josh 24.25 26 27. This Joshuah was a Type of Jesus and called by that name Act. 7.45 Heb. 4.8 When the Tabernacle ceased and the Temple came in the roome of it the Lord gave King David the pattern thereof and he to Solomon 1 Chron. 28. from verse 11 to 21 and they were both Types of Christ as Kings Now as to the King it was given to build at first and to appoint the Laws of the House at first so to the Kings was it appointed to repaire the breaches when any were The People of Israel were a Royal Priesthood Exod. 19.6 yet they might not meddle with the Priests Office Numb 16.9 10. They were a Kingly People an anointed Nation 1 Chron. 16.22 Psal 105.15 yet they did not all raign as Kings nor did the People set about the restoring or repairing what was amisse till such to whom it was by order appointed to be their head did set upon the work Neither in the Tabernacle without Moses nor in the Circumcision of those who were born in the wilderness without Joshua nor in the Temple without David or Solomon nor in the repairing the Temple without their Kings as Josiah Hezekiah c. nor in the coming out of Babylon without Zerubbabel Declaring plainly that to them to whom at first was given the power of building the House and appointing the Laws thereof to them did appertain the right of repairing the breach and restoring the Laws which were such persons as did type out the Lord Jesus who as at first he became the corner-stone of the building and did by his Messengers his Apostles and Ministers with whom he manifested his visible presence Matth. 28 19 20. Mark 16. ult Joh. 15. the last words of vers 5. lay the foundation and build the superstructure according to Eph. 2.20 Eph. 4.12 so to the same Lord Jesus Christ by his Ministery accompanied with his Power and Presence doth it of right belong to be the Repairer of the breaches which Antichrist hath made in the Christian Church and the Restorer of paths to walk in as of old was typed out in the Temple-state in the examples before alleadged Once the Lord Jesus taught the people by himself from the days of his