God and the condemning power of the Law and all miseries upon body and soul name and state in this world and those unsufferable everlasting torments in hell and I believe that all the creatures in heaven and earth are not able to deliver us out of this condition and I believe that the greatest part of mankind are reprobates and shall unavoidably suffer these torments now this is part of the account of our faith yet no account at all of our hope so likewise I believe that Iesus Christ the Sonne of God was conceived by the holy Ghost born of the virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was dead and buried and the third day he arose from the dead and ascended into heaven now to put hope in this place that Christ would do those things would destroy our faith so dangerous it is to the Eldership to require an account of faith from unblameable communicants to debarre them from the Lords Table till they have from them a second admission from this Text. But Paul saith let a man examine himself and so let him eat now he will do it partially if left to himself neither doth this Text exclude the Eldership Ans I am speaking of those examined already or at least tendred themselves to it when they were admitted 2. That self examination is of the heart whether Christ be in them see 2 Cor. 13.5 which none but themselves can do 3. If this Text include the Eldership they must examine them every time they come to that Ordinance 4. The Eldership is onely to examine those that are not Communicants that they may be Communicants unlesse some great sinne be laid to their Charge which if proved may justly debarre them from that Ordinance till reformation and satisfaction to the Church for it now the younger sort who never were yet at the Sacrament will more freely answer before the grave Eldership than before all the Congregation and so will those that are cast out that they may be admitted But is it sufficient for the teaching Elder to sow the seed of sound Doctrine and then to look no further after the growth of it in the hearts of his people Ans No for the Teaching Elder and the ruling Elders together ought to visit their flock and to labour to remove whatsoever will hinder the growth of it as the husbandman doth when he hath sowed the seed who when he seeth great stones lie upon it will remove them or great clods then he will break them or if water stand to drown it he will let it out or if the fence be broken he will make it up even so should Church officers labour to remove all doubts and scruples that may hinder their growth in grace and also defend them from any that shall seduce them by error and prophanenesse thus when Christ had preached publickly in the Temple Iohn 18.20 Then privately he expounded all things unto them Mark 4.10 34. yea he went into his garden to see if the vine did flourish or the pomgranats budded which made the spouse immediately to be as the Chariots of Aminadab swift and comely Cant. 6.11 12. so also when Christ had sent out his Apostles to preach Mat. 10. he presently sent out seventy more to confirm their Doctrine Luke 10. so when Paul had preached to them publickly he then admonished them privately from house to house Acts 20.20 yea when any of the Apostles had preached publickly they returned to confirm the souls of the Disciples Acts 14 21 22.15.41 Paul plants and Apollo waters 1 Cor. 3.5 6. when Apollo went into Achaia the brethren wrote unto the Disciples to receive him who when he was come helped them much that believed through grace Acts 18.26 27. so should ruling Elders long to impart unto them some spirituall gift for their mutuall joy Rom. 1.11 12 But although Christ and his Apostles did so will it follow that the minister and Elders ought now to do so Ans Yes for what Christ and his Apostles did publickly in the Ministery was for other Ministers imitation and what they did privately was for all Christians to follow but especially ruling Elders who are appointed to assist them in Church government 2. All Christians are bound to admonish one another in the faith Heb. 10.25 Iud. 20. much more ought ruling Elders 3. Some ought to warn the unruly and to comfort the feeble minded and support the weak 1 Thes 5.14.15 but neither equalls nor inferiors can do this 4. It is the custome of other Churches with whom we have engaged that the officers should visit the flock both for their protection and edification 5. The Church hath many enemies who seek to destroy it Acts 20.29 30. 1 Pet. 5.8 2 Tim. 3.6 therefore some had need to defend it and who so fit as ruling Elders who watch for their souls with the teaching Elder as those that must give an account for them Heb. 13.7 17. Lastly this visiting them from house to house by mutuall conference will remove jealousie of their pride and increase knowledge and unity between them and the people But what if the Eldership shall find some who were formerly admitted to be both prophane and scandalous shall they still partake at the Lords Table Ans No if they declare their sinne as Sodom and hide it not and their very countenance doth testifie against them Isa 3.9 when the pride of Israel doth testifie to his face that he doth not turn to the Lord his God Hos 7.10.5 5. Such need no further proof if they paint the face as Iesabel 2 Kings 9.30 35. or by setting such spots on them which shews they are none of Gods people Deur 32.5 or by their naked breasts or if men do as it was fasly reported of David shamelessely uncover themselves in the sight of Maidservants 2 Sam. 6.20 or men hung about most vainly with ribbonds and points or women in the harlots habit Prov. 7 10. their apparrell being strange to all modesty God will destroy such although they be Princes children Zephaniab 1.8 But what if they in their visiting find some men wearing long hair and poundred locks and women lay out their hair shall such come to the Lords table Ans No not till Reformation for such people are so far from Grace that they have almost sinned out the very light of nature for doth not even nature it self teach that if a man have long hair it is a shame unto him 1. Cor. 11.14 Secondly when men are called to fasting and prayer they are charged to cut off their hair Jer. 7.29 and Iob did so when he fell on the ground and worshipped Iob 1.20 yea saith Paul judge your selves is it comely for a woman uncovered to joyn in publike prayer or prophecying or at the Lords Table 1 Cor. 11.5.13.20 Thirdly the Churches of God have no such custome although some will be contentious ver 16. and women ought to have power over their heads in the sight of the
Text 1. Tim. 4.14 There Paul saith neglect not the gift that is given thee by laying on of my hands that is by miraculous qualifying and fitting him for the Ministery and also by laying on of the hands of the Presbytery by ordination approving of that sitnes this last is still in use at this day in the Church for the Apostles left others to ordain Elders in every City or Church at their decease Titus 1.5 But is your office of Ministry peculiar to Ministers Ans yes Aaron and his sonnes shall wait on the Priests office Ex. 28.4 and saith Paul the Lord put me into the Ministery 2 Thes 1.12 I magnifie mine office Rom 11.13 every Member hath not this office neither may any say I have no need of thee nor one Member act in anothers office if al were as one Member where were the body 1 Cor. 12. Secondly Ministers are Ambassadors but if all were such to whom are they sent and they are Shepherds but if all be such where is the Flock and they are Stewards but if all be Stewards where is the family and houshold of faith But may not men of other callings preach the word and take the Pastorall charge of a congregation without this ordination David preached and prophesied Psal 40.9 and Solomm is called the Preacher Eccle. 1.1 Ans It is true so did women prophesie 2. Chron. 34.22 Acts 21.9 yea women reveal'd Christ Iohn 4.29 aud declared his Resurrection Luke 24.10.11.12 and yet they were not in the Ministery for VVomen may not speak in the Church 1 Cor. 14.34 yea Angels declared the glad tidings of Christ and also his Resurrection and call themselves brethren to the Prophets Luke 2.10.24.25 Revel 22.9 yet they were not in the ministry And for David and Solomon they preach as Penmen of Scripture to the great Congregation the universall Church but not as a Pastor to his people Secondly Trades-men are placed by God and charged there to abide with God 1 Cor. 7.25 3ly they are forbidden to be busie bodies in other mens matters charged to do their own businesse 1 Pet. 4.15 1 Thes 4.11 Fourthly God hath severely punished those men of other callings when they presumed to meddle with the office of Ministry 1 Sam. 6.19 2 Sam. 6.7 Nom. 16.35 21 Sam 26.16.19 5ly No man can discharge the Pastors office and another calling for who is sufficient for it alone 1 Cor. 1.16 Sixthly the Apostles left their other callings and gave themselves only to the Ministry Acts 6.4 and so did Christ himself the calling of a Carpenter Mark 8.3 and refused the office of a King and the office of a Iudg Iohn 6.15 Luke 12.17 being anointed to preach the Gospell Luke 4.10 and knowing that Ministers are forbidden to intangle themselves with the affaires of this life 2. Tim. 2.4 Seventhly every calling is to be done in faith and love but Trades-men cannot preach in Faith having no warrant from the word of God nor in love to profit the people because not sent nor blest of God who only teacheth to profit 〈◊〉 48.19 Jer. 14.14 But suppose a man be not placed in any other calling may not hee take upon him the calling of the Ministery without humane learning Ans No for the messenger of the Lord must be an interpreter Job 33.25 Secondly he must not glory in another mans line in things made ready to his hand 2 Cor. 10.16 Thirdly unlearned men wrest the Scripture to their own destruction 2 Pet. 3.16 Fourthly Paul prayeth that they may speake with tongues and giveth thanks for that gift in himself 1. Cor. 5.13.15 Fifthly Ministers must be watchmen to give warning of dangers approaching Eze. 3. but unlearned men cannot give warning of errours written in Greek or Latin by which the Gentry may be much corrupted and the watchman see it not for want of learning Sixthly the gift of tongues is placed in the Church then chiefly in the ministery Seventhly if a Bishop be a novice he will fall into the condemnation of the Devill 1 Tim. 3.8 Eighthly both Christ and his Apostles and all Ministers in all ages had this gift of tongues either immediately infused or mediately taught in Schools Mar. 6.2 John 7.15 Acts 2.4 Ninthly Ministers ought to eat the book and then prophesie Eze 33. Rev. 10.9.10.11 but they cannot read the book without some humane learning Isa 29.12 Tenthly saving grace alone is not sufficient to make a Minister for then women or children may be Ministers when as the one may not speak in the Church and the other cannot speak at all for both may have saving grace yea a heathen without the pale of the Church may have saving grace yet unfit for the office of the ministry But the Apostles preached before they had this gift of tongues Ans It is true they preached to the Cityes in Israel who spake the language in which the Old Testament was written but they were charged not to goe among the Gentiles Mat. 10.5.6.7 but we are Gentiles and speak not the Language wherein any part of the Scripture was first written and also when the Apostles were to preach unto the Gentiles they were charged to tarry at Ierusalem till they had the gift of tongues Luke 24.49 yea the gift of tongues was a signe that the Gentile Preachers were truly called to the ministry 1 Cor. 14.22 Marke 16.17 But those Scriptures that speak of Bishops qualification say nothing of the gift of tongues 1 Tim. 3. Titus 1.6 to 9. Ans Although the gift of tongues be not there set down yet it is in other Scriptures as hath been shewed Secondly if Ministers should make those two texts their only pattern and labour for those qualifications only and for no other see what absurdities will follow First then they need not be able to read English because reading is not there mentioned but then these things they must have First a house of their own Secondly a wise Thirdly children Fourthly they must be faithfull Fifthly not accused of ryot Sixthly they must have a good report of those without and he that wants any of these is unfit for the Ministry But who must chuse the Minister Ans All have a right to chuse him in case he be already ordain'd and so in the Ministry unlesse they be dis-abled by a journey or sicknesse or infancy or excommunication or women that may not speak in the Church or servants who contribute not to his maintenance But what maintenance is the Minisser to have of the Congregation Ans A sufficient certain maintenance either by Tythes or some other way For Tythes were not altogether judiciall First because Abraham payed tythes before the Iudiciall Law was given Ger. 14 20. and so did Iacob also Gen. 28.22 Secondly Tythes were not only to the Priesthood of Aaron but also to the Priesthood of Melchisedec which is an everlasting Priesthood Heb. 73. 4.8.13 yea Levy himself paid tythes to this Priesthood vers 9. although he received tythes of the Iewes Thirdly whereas the Scribes and Pharisees paid tythe of Mint Annis and Cummin and omitted the weightier matters of the Law as judgment mercy and faith now sairth Christ unto them these ought you to have done and not to leave the other undone Mat. 23.23 Luke 11.42 therefore by the testimony of Christ tythes are still to be payed but however Ministers ought to have a sufficient maintenance First because the Iewish Priests had a sufficiency allowed them and saith Paul even so hath the Lord ordain'd for Ministers of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.14 Secondly Ministers must give themselves wholly to the work of the Ministry Acts 6.4 and may not intangle themselves with the affairs of this life 2 Tim. 2.4 therefore they had need to have a sufficient maintenance Thirdly as it was the sinne of Ieroboam to make the lowest of the people Ministers so it is their sinne to make those in the Ministery to become the lowest for lack of sufficient maintenance Fourthly it is very prejudiciall to the Peoples soules for their Minister to be forced to seek his own naturall food when he should be preparing food for their soules Fifthly Ministers are at great charges for learning to fit themselves for the Ministry and when they are fitted for it yet many times it is long before they are placed in any benefice and when they are placed in it then it is but for their life in case they enjoy it so long and then all is gone from their wives and Children for ever and sometimes through the envy of evill men they are quickly cast out of all and it may be never attain to another all their days these things considered Ministers ought to have a sufficient maintenance And also their maintenance ought to be certain and not depend on the peoples courtesie First because all men have a certain rate for their work and shall Ministers only depend on peoples courtesies Secondly the Iewish Priests had a certaine maintenance and saith Paul even so hath the Lord ordained for the Ministers of the Gospell 1 Cor. 9.13.14 Thirdly Ministers are hired Labourers Luke 10.7 1. Tim. 5.18 therefore they ought to know their wages and also be certain of it 4ly Paul saith it is the peoples duty to minister unto them in carnall things Rom. 15.27 now if it be a duty it is not upon courtesie unlesse they will hold themselves bound in duty to give little or much any thing or nothing as they please themselves But it is a sinne to teach for hire and to divine for money Micah 3.11 Answ First it is true if they onely sought their own gain and not at all the salvation of the people 2. If they should more seek their own gaine than the peoples salvation But to seek maintenance that they may subsist in seeking Gods glorie in their salvation is most pleasing to God 2 Corinth 12 14 15. By Thomas Bakewell Jmprimatur Iohn Downame FINIS
this would be a gathering Communicants out of Communicants as bad as to gather a Church out of a Church which is mere sedition Fifthly to subpend all the Communicants at their first sitting under pretence to purge that Ordinance is the direct way to destroy it because no account can be given from what fellowship they are all suspended nor unto what fellowship they shall be admitted in case their answers be approved having no more Members left Lastly this would be miserable ingratitude to them that in love chuse them for their Elderships But those admitted in the Prelates time was under a false Governmet having no Elderships then erected the Pastour doing it alone either without no examination or else very sleightly therefore that was no lawfull admittance Ans Our Pastors were then lawful Presbyters having a lawfull call into the Ministry yea if the Prelates would lay down their usurpation over their brethren and betake themselves to feed one flock they also are lawfull Ministers having their Ordination by the Presbytery yea in case of necessity before the Eldership be erected one minister may ordain another thus Luther coming out of Rome might ordain other Ministers so before there was any Eldership in Crete Paul saith I left Titus there to ordain Elders in every city Titus 15. yea before the Eldership was erected the Apostles did the office of ruling Elders and Deacons receiving and keeping the treasure of the Church and distributing to every man according to his need Acts 4.35 yet not so when those other officers were chosen Acts 6 2 3.4 5.11.3 as also the Pastor is both a teaching and a ruling Elder therefore those admitted by him at that time was sufficient and to say it was done sleightly the like may be said of what is done by the present Eldership by those that shall succeed them 2. I would know what examination those three thousand had which were admitted immediately after the hearing of Peters Sermon to both Sacraments Acts 2.41 42 shall we cavill at them because it was done before the Eldership was erected 3. The Communicants tenddring themselves to their examination ought not to be punished for their Pastours neglect 4. Their godly life may satisfie for that slight admittance Lastly other Presbyterian churches will admit those that have been commulnicants in other Churches only upon a certificate from thence shal not we do so to those whom we and many hundreds more were eye witnesses that they were communicants and as yet never any thing laid to their charge But Church Officers ought to know the state of their flock Prov. 27.23 and as faithfull Stewards give them no hurtfull thing therefore they had need again to examine them before admission Ans It is true they ought to know the state of their flock by visiting them from house to house as in the Primitive church Acts 20.20 but this is not done at once by propounding to them two or three questions 2. If former admittance be not sufficient unles an exact knowledge of them then by the same rule their succeeding Minister must also refuse to dispence that Ordinance till he hath the like exact knowledge of them 3. by this argument the death or removall of their Pastor or any of their Eldership would prove an Excommunication of all the Congregation till that exact knowledge be obtained by them that succeed 4. It is not the Pastors fault if the ordinance prove hurtfull to them that have not saving grace it being wholesom food and dispenced to those formerly admitted and therefore have a true outward right unto it and the inward is perfectly known to none but God and their own souls hence I conclude that those formerly admitted and as yet never charged with any crime upon the reprofession to be faithful to their former Principles may still partake at the Lords Table without any further examination or any new admittance But Church officers are not onely commanded to prepare themselves but their brethren to keep the Passeover 2 Chron. 35.6 therefore they ought again to be examined and so admitted Ans That Text doth onely charge the Priests to prepare their brethren the Levites to be ready to kill the Passeover and besides I speak of those already prepared and formerly admitted that they should not be suspended before they be justly charged with some offence But it is no suspension to admit them upon the goodnes of their answer Ans It is directly as they would deal with a Iew or a Turk for upon the goodnesse of their answer and unblameablenesse of their lives they shall be admitted to both Sacraments and no otherwise shall this man being a Christian and a Church-member and formerly admitted to the Lords Table and as yet not charged with any offence whereby to cast him out But they ought to answer every man that shall ask them a reason of their faith much more to the Eldership 1 Per. 3.15 16. and he that cannot give such an answer although formerly admitted in the time of the Prelates ought not still to partake being found ignorant Ans It is not said answer every man but be in readinesse to do it for every man hath not power to demand an account of our faith 2. This account hath been already given or at least tendred when they were first admitted 3. From this Text we are not to do it unlesse we will till they speak evill of us as of evil doers and falsely accuse our good conversation in Christ and then also before those that have power and authority to demand an account of our faith and if scorners demand it cast no pearls before swine reprove not a scorner lest he hate thee Pro. 3.8 If railing Rabshakah shall ask why they trust in the Lord answer him not a word Isa 36.20 21. 4. If the Elders in their visitation find them ignorant they ought rather to instruct them than to accuse and suspend them lest they make others think that they come rather to accuse than to edifie to cut off rather than to heal a member 5. To accuse and suspend those they find ignorant after admission would make the Eldership contemned and then what good can they do 6. The most exactest Eldership may be overseen to admit some that are igonrant in some things although they may answer well in others 7. The best Christian under heaven is not at all times ready to give a direct answer to all points in Religion 8. The Apostles themselves were ignorant of some fundamental points of religion when they did receive the Sacrament with Iesus Christ as of his death resurrection and ascensior Lastly this Text requires an account of hope but faith is of a larger extent Thus I believe that man at the first was made in the image of God righteous and holy and had then sweet communion with God but by sinne he lost that image of God and that Communion also and brought upon himself the curse and wrath of