Ad clerum. A visitation sermon... 1678
James, John, of Latimors
12 2 odds Ss Mt 1 2; RE abt Ono ROS STE IEEE 7.x F ; Ss } | A DD <:\/* Fs a * [1 -. re PREACHED | FR Brckonfiel in the County of Bucks pil the gf 1678. By JOHN JAMES, A.M. Rettor of Latimers in the (ount) Bucks, C—— 4» cx N*M lth -, _ LONDON, & Printed by 7: H. for R. (hiſwel, at the Roſe and Crown in St. Payl's Church-yard, 1678. —_ —— — _ Imprimatur, Geo. Thorp. R* in C. P. D. Domino "| Gulielmo Archiep. Cant. a Sacris Domelticis. May 31. 1678. 7 / (1) 1 Cor. 4. 1,2. Let a man ſo account of us, as of the Mmiſteys of (hrift, and Stewards of the Myſteries of God. Moreover it us required in Stewards, that a man be found faithful. (Aint Paul having planted Chriſtianity among g the Corinthians, by preaching the Goſpel of Chriſt inthe City of Corizth, and other adja- cent Provinces in the Countrey of Greece ; af- ter the ſpace of Eighteen Months he departed from thoſe Regions, and took his Journey into 4a, where he alſodelivered what he had received from the Lord, and inftruQed the People both publickly in the Syna- gogues, and privately 1n their Houſes, in the Myſte- ries of the Kingdom of God : Immediately after his de- parture, Apollos being by Priſcilla and Jquila, ſulfici- ently inſtructed in the Doctrine of the Goſpel upon his coming to Epheſis, 1s by them recommended and {>nt to the Brethren at Achaia, where he boldly deli- vered and diligently taught the things of che Lord; confirming thole who were converted by the Mini- [try of St. Paul, inthe grounds and principles of the Chriſtian faith, and by arguments unan{werable con- {uting the molt obſtinate Zews, and putting to ſilence publickly in the Synagogues the molt ſubtte and jhrewdeſt Diſputants among them, As 18. verſ. n 24 OC. | 6 But though Paul had p'anted the Chrittian Religi- 2 cn (2) | on, in converting many by the preaching of the Goſ- pel to be Profelytes to it, and Apollos after him, had wa- tered thoſe Converts, in contributing his utmoſt aſl. ſtance to ſettle and eſtabliſh them on the Foundation which Paul had laid, though God himſelf had given increaſe inmaking their labours effeQual by the bleſ- ſed influence of his Spirit, to. obtain. thoſe great ends he deſigned, in the promulgation of the Goſpel ; to. wit, the Converſion and Edification of Souls, jn the. faith of Chriſt ;, yet, in a ſhort time the heat of their Devotion began to be abated , or rather to be miſim- ployed upon 1mproper objects: For thoſe which had enrolled themſelves into. the ſameSociety,profefſed and wereBaptizediinto the fame faith; and ſo became mem- bersof theſame myſtical body; broke forth into furious contentions 8& animoſities againſteach other, rendring moitmiſerably,and moſt cruelly tearing ce oy of . Chriſt topieces in its very Infancy ; for through the enmity of thoſe impure Grofticks, againſt the Rules and Precepts of Chriſtianity, and the malice of the Judaizing Chriſtians, againſt many points of Do- Qrine contained therein ; moſt lamentable Schiſms - and Fattions broke forth in the Church of Corinth, which like flames of Fire were ready to conſume and burn it dowa to the ground ; Errors and Hereſies were, ſcattered abroad, and greedily received by too many among them, which like ill Weeds ſoon grew up, and brought forth moſt unwholſom frut 1n their lives and Manners. | This ſad news no ſooner came to. the Ears of our Apoſtle, . but it ſunk heavily down upon his Soul , and made a deep impreſſion of ſorrow upon his minde ; therefore to redreſs theſe miſchiefs, and if poſlible, to {ettle the diſtractions and diviſions of Corizth , he 6 preſently | = 8 preſently compoſerh and direQts this Epiſtle to the Church thete, and to all other Chriſtians both Zews and Gertiles inhabiting the Regions of Achaia, in which after a Religious and moſt atfeQtionate Salutati- on to procure from them a favourable Audience, and a candid entertainment of what he delivered, from v. 7. tov. 9. He molt earneſtly exhorts them to an Unity in Doctrine and brotherly Communion one among ano- ther; verſ. 10, 11. Andthen laying open before their eyes the grievouſneſs of their Schiſm, he charges them boldly with it to their very faces, verſ.,zT, 12, 13. Tel- - ling them plainly that the ChriſtiawReligion is but ' one, and Chriſt Jeſus theonly Author of it: That the excellency of it is ſuch, thar though it be not uſhered into the World with ſublimity of ſpeech, and the Or- naments of humane wiſdom , and therefore is ſtyled the fooliſhneſs of Preaching, and by the learned Scribes , and wiſe Diſputers of the World, was reje- Qed with pride and inſolence, yet, it conſiſteth in the power of God, and ſo far excelleth the wiſdom of this World, that it deſtroys the underſtanding of the Wiſe and Prudent, and confounds the things that are Mighty and Noble : es 7. 2, That as Chriſtis the Author of this Divine Inſtitution, ſo he is the only pro- per Foundation for men to lay the SuperſtruQure of their Faith and Salvation upon , and according to the - expreſſion of St. Peter, Ats 4. 12. The only Name un- der Heaven given amons Men, whereby they ſhould be called : And conſequently that thoſe who labour in the . Church of Chriff, have no dominion over the Faith of men,or authority to command rheir Conſciences ; not-- _ withſtanding they are Miniſters of Chriſt, and fellow- labourers together with God : Stewards in the Houſ= hold of Faith, and Diſpenſers of the Myſteries of the Goſpel ;. (4) Goſpel; and therefore as men are obliged to ſhew _ themtheir reſpeQiveand juſt eſteem, but noc to tran- {cend its preſcribed limits and bounds, ſo *tis required theſe be taithful in their Ofice, and Conſcientious in the diſcharge of ſo Sacred a FunQtion: which as tis a prevalent means to repair the breaches and cure the diviſions 1n the Church of Chriſt, ſo *ris the advice of the Apoſtles to the Corizthians, and the immediate deſign of the words in my Text. Zet a man ſo account of 45, SC. | | That my diſcourſe may be full and comprehen- ſive, proportionable to the juſt deſign and import of theſe words, and ſerviceable in ſome meaſure'to the —_ occaſion, and future neceſſities of this Aſſem- ly ; Three things neceſſarily require our conſiderati- on: Firſt, The-SubjeQts of the Apoſtles diſcourſe im- plyed under the Pronoun, Ys. Secondly, The mat- ter predicated of, or attributed to theſe Perſons : 7 he Miniſters of Chriſt and Stewards of the Myſteries ; . both which Particulars joyned together, make up an entire Propoſition; that the Perſons intended by the Apo- ſtle,are the Miniſters of Chriſt,and Stewards of the Myſte- ries ,of God. Thirdly, PraQtical Inferences deduced from the truth of the Apoſtles aſſertion, one reſpeQing the men to whom theſe perſons are.employed as M- niſters and Stewards : Tt a man ſo account of us, as of The other relating to the Perſons themſelves, to whom their Office is committed. Moreover 'tis re- quired in Stewards, that a man be found faithful. Firſt, We ſhall conſider the ſubjeQs of the Apoſtles diſcourſe, implrved under the Pronoun, 1s : The Per- ſons here intended, being the very Foundation of the Apoſtles Argument, and a juſt determination of this Particular , the moſt regular a nd orderly m_— - | aſl) > £ TP | aſſiſt us in the undertaking , and progreſs of our pre- ſent employment. *Tis certain, that the Perſons {poken of, whom St. Paul did direQtly and immediate- ly reſpe& are thoſe mentioned , Chap. 3. ver/. 22. Paul, - Apollos and Cephas, who were ſeparated by the Lord for the work of the Miniſtry, and appointed as ſubſervient to the Faith and Salvation of the Corinthi- ans ; but that this particular direction to the Church of Corinth may be of larger uſe and ſervice to the Church of Chriſt in general, *tis moſt rational and conſentaneous to the whole {cope and tenure of the Goſpel, to affirm, that all thoſe, who according to the Canons of Chriſt and the Apoſtles, are conſecrated to the fame imployment, are inveſted with the ſame Au- thority and Office, implicitely included in the expreih- on of the Apoſtle, and theretore as juſtly ſtyled, Miniſters of Chriſt, and Stewards of the Goſpel, as Paul, or Apollos or Cephas were. And if particular Commiſion be neceſſary to con- ſtitute the Offices of the holy Order, the Negative holds as infallibly true as the Affirmative, that no perſon may preſume to adminiſter any Office apprc- prate to this ſacred FunQion, but thoſe whoare Le- gally called to, and Canonically inveſted with it: for the Goſpel, almoſt as oft as occaſion is offered to» make mention of the Miniſters and diſpenſers of ir, plainly intimates, that the Maſter of our Religion, deſigns a ſeparation of perſons from ſecular employ- . ments, to officiate in the Miniſtry and Preaching of | the Goſpel, as in 1 Cor. 12. The Apoſtle reſembles the Church toa Body, which1s conftituted of ſeveral Members, and every one deſigned to ſerve 1n. its pro- _ per place for the benefit and advantage of the whole 3 that the foot cannot ufurp the Office of the fWead., nor | the , (9). the Arm exerciſe the Authority of the-Brain z but. every one diſcharge its proper Function that there be no Schiſm nor Diviſion in the body ; 1n proportion to which ſimilitude the ſtate of Chrit's myſtical body 1s to be underſtood, inwhich every the meaneſt Chriſti- anis a Member in particular, but every Member can- not diſpoſe and regulate the affairs of the whole ;- For are all Apoſtles ? are all Prophets? are all Teachers? do all ſpeak with Tongues ? do all Interpret? Verl. 29. 30. Shall the foot ſay, Unleſs Tam head, Twill not be of the Bo- dy 2 Or theear ſay, Becauſe Tam not theeye, I am not ſufficiently honored ? If the whole Body were an eye, where were the hearing? Andif every Member were the Head , wheye were the Body? But God hath ſet the Members every one in the Body as it hath pleaſed him,Verl.16,17,18. Firſt Apoſtles, Secondarily Prophets , Thirdly Teachers , Verlſ: 28. And that this diſtinction ſhould remain in the Church to the end of the World, is confidently con- | firmed by the Apoſtle, Zpheſ. 4. 11, 12, 13. Wherein he declares, that the Officers of the Church therein mentioned to be given for the perteCting of the Saints, for the editying of the Body of Chriſt, cc. Which Phraſes muit of neceſſity denote their continuance in the Church, till the number of Gods Ele& are accom- liſhed, and the ſtate of Chriſts myſtical Body perfeR- y compleated; and for this reaſon St. Paul juſtifies his ſpecial deſignation to the Apoſtleſhip , x 77. 2. 7. And St. Peter exhorts his Presbyters to continual dili- ones in their imployment, as their proper and nece{- . ary duty, 1 Pet. 5. 1, 2. And inded if we ſearchinto the ancient Records of the World; or conſider the account, which Modern Hiſtorians have privately colleted, and publickly preſented to us, the moſt learned and faithfull among A ; them, (7) them, do confidently aſſure us, that never any Nation in the World, made a publick profeſſion of Religion , but the Governours thereof ſolemaly appointed a ſepa- ration of Perſons, whoſe conſtant employment it ſhould be to Solemnize and Celebrate the Myſteries thereof ; and Moſes in tranſcribing the Hiſtory of the Church of God, both before and atter the Floud , and under the admiltration of the Law, hath recorded the obſervation of the ſame cuſtom, in thoſe ſeveral forms of Church-government ; thus Zzoch and Noah , were Preachers. of Righteouſneſs to the old World ; 4bra- | ham, and the ſucceeding Patriarchs were Kings and Prieſts, 1n their reſpective Families, and duly admini- ſtred the affairs of Religion to their ſeveral charges: And when God erected his Theocratical Government - over the Zews, whom he had choſen for his own Peo- ple, he commanded Aaron and his Sons to be ſer apart for the Prieſts Office, that they might wait at the Al- tar ofthe Lord, ' and Miniſter to the People in Holy things, which was appointeda Statute unto him, and to his Seed after him for evermore, Exod. 28.1, 43. And if the Chriſtian Religion muſt be denyed this honour, and no ſuch Cuſtom obſerved in the Church of Chrilt ; this ſtrange innovation muſt be grounded upon one or both of theſe reaſons, either that it con- tains matters of leſs value and concernment to Chriſti- ans, than the Religion of other Nations to the Profſe- lytes of it : Orelſe that they are lo plaineaſie inalland every particular DoQtrine,that the meaneſt underſtan- ding can comprehend their moſt intimous ſence and meaning,and *tis impoſſible for the moſt illiterate tobe - deceived in his judgment concerning them. Theſe are the faireſt pretences that can be alledged againſt | the neceſſary diſtinQtion of the oo Office, = ther Fd (8) their weakneſs is apparent at the firſt view, and their. abſurdity ſo groſs, that it may palpably be felt :. For.. the Goſpel of Chriſt is ſo far from deſerving this re- proach and contempt, that it contains matters of the greatelt moment and importgnce 'for Man to know , {uch as are the excellency of x: Divine Nature, the itate and condition of mans Soul ; and that incompa-. rable Method contrived by the Divine Wiſdom for mans eternal happineſs, comprehends matters of the moſt univerſal Satisfaction to the minds of men, and . propounds*the duties of a Prattical Religion, which aremoſt agreeable to the Divine Nature to require, and moſt reaſonable for Mankind to obſerve, in all which reſpeQs it infinitely tranſcends all the Plat- forms of Religion entertain'd in the World, and even the worſhip of the Fews themſelves; and though thoſe PraQtical points which are eſſentially neceſſary to mans Salvation, areextremely ſuitable to the dictates of right reaſon, and delivered with the greateſt per- {picuity and clearneſs imaginable ; yet, it diſcourſ- _ eth concerning points of Faith, of the greateſt depth and: myſteriouſneſs which are altogether inconceive-. able and incomprehenſible, and do exceed the appre- henſions of any created Being ; ſuch are the Eternal purpoſes and decrees of God ; theDoQtrine of theTrini-. ' - ty, the Incarnation of the Son of God, with other Do- _ of like affinity, ſcattered up and down the Goſ- pel; for ſo St. Peter tell us, That in the Epiſtles of ' St. Pawl, are ſome things hard to be underſtood, which they that are unlearned and unſtable ſo wreſt,as theydo - alfo the other Scriptures to their owndeſtruttion,2 Pex. 3.16. W hat can be ſpoken of ſuch infinite importance? W hat ean-be delivered of fo tremendous conſequence, - as the Chriſtian Religion? And ſhall not the jv on | Ces VU (9) _Offiicesof ſo Divine an Inſtitution, *be handled with . the moſt awful Solemaity, and Celebrated with the greateſt- reverence and moſt Religious adoration imaginable? And when many ſtumble at this Rock of offence and miſcarry at the ſight of thoſe won- derfull things repreſented therein, is it not ex- tremely neceſlary that men of the greateſt wiſdom and gravity be Conſecrated for the work of the Mini- itry; that they may improve their time and abilities for a right codurthin of the Myſteries of the Chriſtian Faith, and then employ the Talent of their Wiſdom and Knowledge, for the information and di- rection of others; that men may not promiſcuouſly intermeddle with thoſe Holy Offices, nor any man at- ter the {tricteſt diſtinction of Paſtour and People : go altray through want of inſtrutionz and periſh [a want of underſtanding ? | | But becauſe the ſubje& of our preſent Argument reſpeQs a Matter of Fact, and to diſcourſe only de Fure concerning the Ordinances of Chriit is nfih- cient to our preſent purpoſe ; let us confider what the Maſter of our Religion hath de fa&o determined concerning the Miniſterial Office ; the firft remarkable Inſtance that affords any light to this diſquiſition, is the Eleftion and nomination of Apoſtles, recorded Mark 3.13. Zuk.6.13. Whoſe Commilion is gran- _ ted by their Lord and Maſter, 1/atth. to. 1. Zuk. g. x1. After this, uk. 10. 1. He called his Seventy Diſct- ples, to whom he gave Commiſſion to Preach the Goſpel; theſe were the only Perſons which that fupreme Head of the Church Ordained in Perſon ; 2nd to theſe he gave Commulſſion to execute the Minifterial Of- fice, as their proper and peculiar Funtion , the Twelve Apoſtles, and the I———— - | = n _— (10) And that theſe facred Orders might remain in thE Church to the end of the World ; when he firſt ap- . peared to an Aſſembly of his Apoſtles, after his Re* {urreQion, he breathed on them the Holy Ghoſt » and thereby inveſted them with full Authority to exe” cute the Paſtoral Office, for the Ordering and Go- verning his Church, which his Father had commit- ted to him, Zoh. 20. 21, 22. As my Father hath ſent me, even ſo ſend 1 you; which immediately before his Aſention he again renews, witha plain intimati- on of the continuance of that Order ; and conſequent- ly the neceſſity of Ordaining men to ſucceed them in it, till all things ſhould be fulfilled, Mas. 28. 18; I9, 20. And that theApoſtles underſtood their Maſter in this ſence is apparent, becauſe as neceſſity required through the death of the preſent Officers or the larger groweth and extent of the Church, they Aſ- {embled together, and exerciſed Epiſcopal Authority '1n Ordaining others to that Holy employment. Thus they Conſecrated Matthias, though he were Ele&ed by God himſelf, into the place of Zud.zs, and he was numbered with the Eleven Apoſtles, 4s 1. 25. And though St. Paul was a ſingular Inſtance of an immediate miraculous Call, when by a voice from Heaven he was made an Apoſtle ; yet, he began not to Preach the Goſpel, till 2nanias had put his hands on him, and prayed over him, that he might be filled with the Holy Ghoſt, 4#s 9. 17. And when the Gertiles had received the Goſpel through the diſperſion of the Chriſtians. upon the proſecution of St. Srephey ; - the Apoſtles remaining ſtill at Feruſalem, ſent forth Bar- »abas, that he ſhould go to Antioch, who finding Saul at Tarſus, joyned together, and _— .con- | rmed (11) _ firmed the Believers there, AF#s 1x3. Andin the Thir- teenth Chapter, theſe Two men were ſolemnly Or- dained Apoſtles of the 'Gertiles by thoſe Apoſtolical - Perſons mentioned, Yerſ.z. To all which agrees that Rule of the Apoſtle, compriſed in the Interroga- tion of St. Paul, Rom. 10. 15. How ſhall they Preach except they be ſent? (i.e.) They have no Authority, and can expect no bleſſing _ their labours, till they have a lawful Commiſhon to ſet them on work. To which practice of the Apoſtles, the Primitive, and all ſucceding Churches in Chriſtendom, till ſome Zealots of late, have juſtly confirmed, as all Eccleſia- {tial Hiſtories do fully teſtifie ; and thus St. Cle- ens, contemporary, with Saint Paztin his Epiſtle to , ,, , the Corinthians hath left on Record : That the Apo- Gy ae. - ſtles firſt Ordained Miniſters in Churches, and gave oa» 7% ver command, that as any were removed by death, the *8"#7%», 5 moſt deſerving Perſons ſhould be Choſen into their ju} 9:95- place, and-Ordained to execute their Office, Now gzow, mus. £&v nounle- certainly, the Example and approbation of ſo great a 7, "7p, ns.. Cloudof Witneſſes, pon min ſufficient Ware , — _ but a juſt Authority to regulate: the- affairs of the 77a Church, according to their Pattern, to the Worlds 513 x&)ygys end. So thatTI may lawfully.aſſume my deſigned Pro- «v«vmvv- poſition, and confidently deliver it as a juſt and regular Concluſion , that whatever Perſons have been ſuc-' ceſſively Ordained' into; or at preſent inveſted with the Sacred Order ofthe Miniſterial Office, by 1mpo- ſition of hands from Regular Biſhops and their Presby- ters, Tuch men from the Authority of Apoſtolical pra- ctice, are toallintents and purpoſes "the Minifters of Chriſt, and moſt properly Stewards of the Goſpel ; and that all other perſons, whatever be their Natural abilities, their Supernatural Graces, their acquired” - parts,, Epiſt. ad Trall. Þ. 50. Eyiſt ad Phi- .lad. P. 43» C 2) | _ or their great experience in Church-a*:::, ve lot or portion as Agents in theſe matters, wi they receive Commiſſion from good Authority ; and which is more conſiderable, do willfully caſt chem- ſelves out of the Chuch of Chriſt, whilſt they reject and diſown his lawfull Miniſters z which. was the Judgment of that moſt ancient Father, St. /znatins , 6 $135 JuT acute by, na.gneds tov, 6 5 2x]s fv, 8 Kagkugds 252) THT Ec7V, 6 xwg9s EmT toe, x) TlgeT vega, x) Srarovs medorav Th £705 5 Kdruyes za Th ovradioc. YO that 1t was not without great rea- {on, that that bleſſed Martyr called upon the Church of Philadelphia , with ſuch zeal and importunity, To 'Emioriry Troopxele, x) Tw TigsrEu]eeio rt, draxtvus: aawgls Te emoxc- Ts wdey Towle, | * What ſhall we then think of the inſolence of thoſe men, who Sacrilegiouſly uſurp the Miniſterial Autho- Tity, being neither {ent by men, nor as they pretend, called by God 2 LImean thoſe illiterate, but conceited Mechanicks, who being ingaged in ſome civil Calling | as the buſineſs and employment o their lives preſume to be Maſters of Divinity, and Teachers 1a the buſineſs _ of Religion, as if Divine Knowledge were in this lat- ter and declining age of the World, conveyed in- to the minds of men, by the working of Miracles, through an immediate inſpiration ; or the Sacred My- ſteries of Chriſtianity were expoſed by Chriſt with- . out any Guardian to the open World, to be proftitu- ted to, and deſecrated by any the molt common or unſanttified Perſons. ?Tis true that the Prophecies of the Old Teſtament might be fulfilled, and to illuſtrate theglory of theNew ; 1n the beginning of the Chriftian World,God did communicate extraordinary gifts,even to mean and ordinary perſons,who being inſpired bythe Holy Ghoſt did extraregularly Prophetic, or Interpret, or ſpeak with Tongues, Ms 2.17. For {0 it was C_ | | |; by | * : WARE. By the Prophet, Foel. 2. 28. But as they were but few, beſide the Officers of the Church, to whom God diſpenſed thoſe miraculous gifts, ſo they did not - pretend to aſſume the MinifteiralOiice,nor preſume to execute any part thereof, but only altered the inſpi- red Diftates of the Holy Ghoft, for whieh their ex- traordinary endowments were a ſufficient Commiſ:. fion.,, and when thoſe ceaſed, the men returned to their former condition. __ And*tisagreed by all, that there are but two ways, by which men may enter into the Oifice Miniſteri- all, by immediate Command from God, or medi- ate Commiſhon from men; at the firſt Plantation of the Goſpel, thoſe extraordinary Miniſters were ad- mitted to their Fun{tion by an extraordinary Call from Heaven ; but becauſe God cannot work in vain, and will not multiply Miracles without juſt neceſſity ; that other Method of iniriating Church-Offticers, is by Divine appointment eſtabliſhed in the Church , I mean the Impoſition of hands with the prayers of the Superiour Clergy, which Form as tis more ordina- ry than the former,. fo *tis ſufficient for its purpoſe, and fairly correſpondent to the perpetual Rules of a ſet- led and eſtabliſhed Religion; the former Miniſters gave evidence of their Ordination by their miraculous Operations ; the latter muſt if at all, by the Teftimo- nials of the Presbytery, of whom they are ordained : therefore I cannot but ask thoſe bold Pretenders, by what Authority they exerciſe thoſe ſtrange and irre- gular courſes, and who gave them that Authorky , that ſix days in the week they ſhall labour and do all that they have to do in their Secular employments 3 and behold on the Seventh, they ſit as Maſters. of Aſſemblies, or ſtand forth as Preachers ina Congrega-- ' ri0N 3 (14) 7 tion; if they receive their power from God, let them come forth and produce their evidences ; let them in the name'of Chriſt do wonders, and work NMiracies; then we will 1imbrace them as Apoſtles, and give them 'the right hand of fellowſhip ; otherwiſe *c1s. certain, they are not the Meſſengers of God , if they derive it from men, I ask from whom 2 From the Bilhops and | Presbyters ?* Who are intruſted with the Office of 'Ordination, as being competent Judges of the quali- _—_— of men for Spiritual Miniſtries 2 Ifnot from 'them, they are Invaders and Intruders into the Of- tices of the Church, and in the language of Chriſt himſelf, 7hieves ard Robbers, Joh. 10. 1. { From the SubjeQs of the Apoſtles Diſcourſe , we roceed to conſider the Matter predicated of, or attri- regu tothem, which was the ſecond Parcicular deli- vered from the Words; and the other part of the Propoſition implicitel ycontained in them, 7hey are the | f __- Miniſters Ts (15) : Wnifters of Chriſt, and Stewards of the Myſteries of God 5 the proper intenc and purpoſe whereot is really the | ame,- to repreſent the juſt. Authority of the Miniſte- rial Office ; yet. becauſe .?tis a complex Propoſition, the parts whereof are not in all reſpects coincident , and a reall difference is apparent in them, they may juſtlybe ſevered in our conſiderai12n of them,and there- fore.ſhall be handled apart in our intended diſcourſe up- on them ; the former reſpeQs the Authority and Com- miſſion of Miniſters, 7hey are the Miniſters of Chriſt : the latter their Office and employment: They are the Stewards of the Myſteries of God, + Firſt, Conſider the Authority and Commiſſion of the Perſons in the Text : the Apoſtles and their Suc-_ ceſſors are the Miniſters of Chriſt : the former ordain- ed by Chriſt in Perſon, or by animmediate Com- mand from Heaven; the latter regularly inveſted with ſame Commiſſion by the ſolemn Prayers of the. Church, and Impoſition of hands by the principal Officers thereof; which was the Form of Ordination exerciſed by the Apoſtles themſelves, and other Per- ſons in their Generations ( as hath been already ſuffici- - ently demonſtrated ) the praCtice whereof muſt nece{- * farily be a ſufficient Authority to Conſecrate others in the ſacceding ages of the Church, and all ſuch Perſons by virtue of that Apoſtolical Inſtitution re« gularly ordained according to the will of Chrift, and wirhoutall controverſie acknowledged by him, as his Servantsand Miniſters. | | Foras Men and Angels were ſometimes employed. by God, as Miniſters and Agents in the delivery of ſome Meſſage, as conveying ſome bleſſing to the World before the Incarnation of Chriſt ; ſo our bleſ-._ ſed Lord, that abſolute and firoream Monarch of the -- C Church, Þ © {16) : Church, in imitation of his Heavenly Father, call to his aſſiſtance a certain number of Perſons,. nize the worſhip of God, A#s 2, By whofe deſcent they were immediately taught from God, infpixed' infalſibly.to Preach the Go; = 4 to.confirm it by Mira-- cles, and had a. gracious-promiſe, that the ſame bleſ-. {xd Spirit ſhould attend them and their Succefſors to- the Worlds end ; and accordingly when a compleat body of Religion was perfeQted , and the Scripture finiſhed, yea, ſo that that extraordinary work of fuper-. natural Revelation ceaſed ;. the Apoſtles in the name of Chriſt Ordained a degree of men to ſucceed them in. Ordinary in that honourable FunCtion of the Miniſtry, | whoſe it is to Rule under Chriſt over the ſeveral Qi_Arizna Flocks, and to fpeak unto them the Word of. God ;. 47-6 nyſe which account we receivefrom St. Clemens Bifhop of. wel lrg Rome ; that as Chrift was the Angel of God under the Xe, 'In3s ſecond Covenant ;. ſo the Apoſties were the Meſſen- nege amgers of Chriſt, who being filled with the Holy Ghoſt, Je ® 24:47 went forth and Preached the Kingdom of Heaven ec "=" ning and-as the number of Converts increaſed , Conſtitn-. 7& 5 ka- ted: the: moſt eminent and worthy Chriſtians to. edi- Je 2% i» fie the Church, and perfet the body of Chriſt: from. Y, 77.5 #!" hence the Holy Ghoſt deſcribes thele perf :ns by thofe Ew 2; Phraſesand Expreſſions, which denote their relation &rex% -v- to Chritt to be like that of a Servant to a Maſter, or PM, 5 a Steward to a Lord. for fo they are ſtyled *anigau, xivss war Meſſengers, that Receive Commiiſion from him to _— m* 'exercile Authority in his name. over the Church ,. z eons I _ Mas - FN (17) Mzha?, Diſciples or followers of Chriſt as their Lord and Malter ; mTe««þ]a:, Legates,orAmbaſſadours to de- liver ſome Meſſage from their Heavenly Soveraign to poor diſtreſſed mortals here on Earth; Paraliel to which are thoſe other Appeilations of "ayy:au, wngiles, Sire , Jrexores all which are uſed with reference to thoſe immediate Officers of Chriſt, who were em- ployed as Commiſhoners under him, andſent with Authority from him, to treat with their tellow-Crea- tures 1n the buſineſs of Reliziog , and to communi- cate the Myſteries of the Goſpel torhem s which by a juſt Analogy may alſo be attributed to all ſucceeding Minitters, who are legally appointed to ſerve at the Altar of Chrift, and to Miniſter to his People in Sacred things. | | Which is theſecond part of the P ition , and TeſpeQs the Office and employment of the Perſons ſpoken of in the Text, Fhey are the Stewards of the Myſteries of God, that: the Goſpel of Chrift or the Po&rine of Chriſtianity is intended under this Phraſe, will moſt evidently appear, if we compare this Ex- _ preſſion of the Apoſtle with others of the ltke Nature , and then conſider the moſt gertine import and ſigni- fication of them : in Co/. 2. 2.the-Apoltle prefeſling his ardent Zeal and Sollicitude for the Church of God at Colofi, and Laodicea, inferteth-this very expreſſion into" bis prayer for them, that they might be united with one accord, into the the knowledge and: pro- ſeſſion of the Myfteries of God of which heaffirms in the next Verſe , That all Treaſures of Wiſdont and Knowledge are contained in them, the ſame he calls their Faith in Chriſt, Yerſ'.5. And receiving Chriſt Jeſus the Lord, Yerſ.” 6. Which Phraſes can admit of no other a explicate- their _ | 2 an (18) and meaning, than to ſignifie the: Chriſtian DoQrine,. which at the firſt was delivered by the Lord, andafter-. wards confirmed and perfe&ed by them that heard him ;. Parallel to-which 1s that Illuſtrious Aphoriſm of St.. Paul, 1 Tim.3. 16. Great is the Myſtery of God- lineſs; that is, the Religion of Chriſt, which pre- ſcribes the. moſt excellent and pertect Rules of Piety ; and that this notion requires ſo general a ſignification appears, by the ſeveral branches enumerated by the Apoſtle, as a Baſis-or Foundation: to- ſuppore the Church of God', which were the common recetved Articles. of the Chriſtian Religion. For that men mighr not wander eternill-” in the dark, and an everlaſting blindneſs poſſeſs their Souls ; it hath pleaſed rhe infinitely Wiſe and Gracious God to communicate to the World, by Divine Revela- tion many ſublime and myſterious poin:s, and what- ever elle is neceſſary to be believed and obſerved in order to Mens Salvation ; and that theſe things might be perpetuated to the World, and fecured from the corruptions or invaſions. of. Enemies, it ſeemed good to the Holy Ghoſt to commir them to writing 1n the Sacred Records of Holy S-ripture ; which by an eſpeciall providence are preſerved. entire to this very day in the Canonical Books of the Oid and Nw Teſtament s which latter was che only Founda- tion laid by the Apoſtles ; and therefore. the- Cata- Jogue of Boks contained therein, the ſum and ſub- ſtance of the Chriſtian Faith, which-St. Paul faith, was made manifeit and known to the Saints; and. ſo certa.aly could-not remain in unwritten Traditions ; for then it would have been hid from the World, Rom. 16. 26. Aad another Apoſtle calls it the Faith,, ance, -or at once dchyered; ZFude 3. Which —_— ; oppoſe: (19) oppoſeth any Innovation or IntroduCtion of DoQtrines 1nto the Goſpel after irs conſummation by the Apo- ſtles, which is an aſſertion of ſuch Catholick verity, that all the Writers in the Church of Chriſt have conſtantly acknowledged it, till thoſe few perſons in the late Councel ot Zrent durit venture to reject the univerſal Traditionof the Church, and run coun- ter with the beſt Antiquity ; which 1s plainly de- monſtrated by the incomparable induſtry, and ela- borate inquiry of the late Reverend Biſhop of Durham, in his Scholaitical Hiltory of the Canon ot Holy Scrip- tUTE, So that, though theW ritings of Apocryphical Au- thors may be Read in the Church: of God, for exam- ple of lite, and inſtruction of manners; yet., the Governours of our Church in Compiling her pub-- lick Liturgy, have appoinied no part of thoſe Books to beRead, but what is agreeable to Canonical Scrip- ture; andalways accounted their Authority too weak to lay any Foundation tor, ,or to eſtabliſh any neceſſary Doctrine upon : Which was the Judgment of. | | and; (20) and:impudent, and are afraid of the Curſe of God, if we: ſhould receive them as Articles of Faith ; be- cauſe the Holy Ghoſt in the Comſummation of the Gof- pel, hath conſign'd and Sealed it up with an 24- thema, Rev. 22. 18, 19. Lteſtifie, &c. Therefore the Church of Z#»2/ard according to the practice of the ' Catholick Church in all Ages, ſince the. time of the Apoſtles, hath preſcribed the {ame Canon of Scrip- | ture, and utterly diſclaimed all pretence of Adition to,. or Detraction from it, as?tis recited 1n the Sixth Article of our Religion. So that the written Word . of God, the Sacred Records of the Goſpel, the ſeveral Contents therein, the various parts there- of, and no. other Writings or Traditions what- Joever are that depoſitum committed to the charge: of all Miniſterial Officers, whoſe duty it 1s to =s" ibn and improve the ſame according to the pleaſure of their Lord and Maſter ; for this purpoſe they are con- ſtituted Stewards of God, and Diſpenſers of Holy My- ſteries; thus St. Paulaffirms in general, 2 Cox. 5. 18, 19,20. God hath givenUs the Miniſtry of Recoxcilia- ton, and committed toUs the Hord of Peace, that we are Ambaſſadours for Chriſt, to pray men in Chriſts ſtead to be reconciled unto God, andin particular, proclaims of himſelf, that he was appointed a Preacher of the Goſpel, andan Apoſtle, anda Teacher of the Gentiles, 2 71m. 1.131. And for this reaſon he exhorts 7ims- thy, toſtir upthe gift of God which was in him, by the putriag on ofh4; hands, to hold faft the- form of ſound words, whichhe had heard ofhim, and to keep by the Holy Ghoſt, the good thing which was com- mitted to him, Yer. 6, 13, 14. To which agrees that defersption- of a'Miniſter or Preſident-in Sacred _ affairsdelivered by that Myſtical Divine, that he - tie / R | (2x * the proper Interpreter of Divine Theology, and'the-g.z.;6- ;.- Angel of Almighty God being to learn from thoſe gems tout Divinely inſpired Oracles, and thento teachand ex- {72 © plain them tothe Church. " _ And if the Commuthhon of thoſe Apoſtolical Perſons vdier, ay: . - . . . . A Fs Kv els be reſtrained within the preſcription of certain j3' 4,4. bounds, that they durſt not go beyond the command yay is ix wy. of the Lord, to do either good or bad of their own dh gu mind; had power to ſay nothing inthe name of Chriſt, ;,ga/J0cnds. | but what he communicated to them by Divine Infpi--###«ive. ration; and none to diminiſh ought of w hat he bid them ſpeak, ( for though they, enjoyed under Chriſt the greateſt preheminence | imaginable in Reli- ous athairs ; yet they durſt not detract from, or add to the will of God, by Preaching up their 0. n fancies, and. the imaginations of their own Brains ; this St. Paul profeſleth of himfelf, x:Cor. 2: x: to 7. And both the Evangeliſts and Apoſtles do ferioutly pro-- teſt, that whatever they delivered to the World ( as to all the main and neceflary parts of Dottrine) they received it from Chriſt in Perſon, or by Revelation. from the Holy Ghoſt, as we may well beheve, confi- dering thofe miraculous gifts and graces, which were. communicated to them. which was an irrefragable. demonſtration of the Spirit and Power of God , by _ Which they ſpake;.) *tis highly abſurd to imagine that their Succeſſors ſhould: have. greater liberty in the Church of Chriſt, andefpecially at fuch a vatt di- ſtance of 'ttme from the propagation of the Goſpel and the ceflation of Miracles ; indeed it might-be defer-- vedly accounteda Miracle, not the leaft, if we ſhould* be Soveraign Lords over mens Conſciences, or have abſolute domifrionin'matrers dfFaith . if our Ambat: fage ſhould be of anuntimited Nature, like the __ mand: \ (22) mand which 7berizss gave Druſa« upon a certain ex- pedition, /Vullis certis manaatis, exre conſulturum ; that every man mighthave the power: of a Plenipotenria- Ty, and deliver what {cems goed in his own eyes 3 when every tittle ofour Errand is comprized by God, rati..edand coniirmed f 'om Heaven , and explicitely contained 1n the grand Charter of our.Commuſſion 3 the Records of the Goſpel : So that as the Civil Law adjudgeth thoſe Ambailadors gui'ty of High Treaſon, who tranſcend the hounds and limits of thetr Commiſ- ſion; and both Modern and Ancient Hiſtories Record, '--,. that ſuch preſumption hath received a juſt recom- pence of reward the Apoſtles always accounted it a-Sacrilege moſt horrid and 1inexcuſable in*the tight of their Maſter, and loaded that Perſon with a moſt readful Znathema, who ſhould preſume to broach his own Inventions, and to intermingle them with the Dottrine ot the Goſpel, Gal. 1.3 g. If we, or an Angel from Heaven Preach any other Doctrine , then that ye have already received, lethim be accurſedz which Ap ſt ical Conſtitution is of equal Authority in the Church, to this very day; for in reference to that Text, 1s that gloſs of St. Auſtin. IMalediitus eft qui quidpiam preaicat, preterquam, quod in Scripturis 7 eg ana Evangelii recepimms. | Andiftheſe things be true, what juſt indignation may the Maſter of our Religion conceive againſt the preſumption and bo'dneſs of the Church of Roe ; which advanceth the Pope into His Tribunal, and af- , cribesa like pow er, might and dominion to him, as to ]. - the eternal Son of God } For though, Chriſt alone can in:trudt us in the Laws and\Ordinances of his Kingdom, and by the influence of his Spirit dire us in ihe way of lite ; though that pretended Vicar of | \ Chriſt | (23) Chriſt be ſtyled the Miniſter of our Lord, and in his Canons and Decrees ſubſcribe himſelf ; Zp:ſcopms & ſer- vis Servorum Dei , yet dares he proudlyuſurp the moſt - properOffices of his Maſter,and boldly aſſume the Title of Head of the Church : For he, as they confidently boaſt, hath received full Authority from Chriſt to deliver the whole will of God to the World; and to decide all Controverſies in Religion , who, according to them, is certainly infallible, when he aQts as Head of the Church , whom the Holy Ghoſt doth continually attend in Council, lawfully Summon'd, and in his Conſiſtory aſſiſts him to Judge infallibly of Spiritual affairs ; he hath Supremacy over the Souls of Men, can diſpenſe with Divine Laws, diſſolve mens Obli- gation of obedience to them, and ſecure their Perſons from the wrath of God; which for their diſobedience they juſtly deſerve ; he can conſtitute new Articles of Faith, and impgle his definitions on the whole eceſlary to mans Salvation ; elivered to him, for though Chriſt alone opens and ndman ſhuts, and fhuts and no man opens, Rev. 3. 7. Yet, by Succetſion to St. Peter , he dares Sit and Reign as Univerſal Sove- raign, by his Papal Authority determining the Con- ditions of Life and Death ; and according to mens ob- ſervaticn of them, adjudging them tothe one or other: « .asifhe that Reigns in Heaven above,andRules onEarth beneath, had ceaſed to execute his Kingly Office over the Church,and had derived it to St. Peter,as his imme- diate Succeſſor, and to the Pope as Univerſal Vicar. That theſe are indeed the Principles of the Church of Rome, and not the {landerous ſuggeſtion of Prote- ſtants, is apparently manifeſt, not only from the Wri- tings of their private Doors, but from the _— | D 0 the Keys of Heaven ar - Scriptos, (24) | of their general Councils, and the moſt ſolemn Bulls of ſeveral Popes ; in which they have acted ſo direaly gm to the Miniſters of Chrilt, and Stewards of the Goſpel, that they have exerciſed Authority over Chriſt himſelf, and By their Traditions made the Goſpel of Chriſt of no effeQ : Witneſs that Decree concerning the Canon of Scripture, in the Fourth Seſli- on of the Council of Zrext, Celebrated under Paul the Third, wherein it was declared , that the Books = _— pha, and all their unwritten Traditions , are Synodits —_ equally he Dictates of Gods Spirit with the moſt Ca- fre ſc. tradi- Nonical Scripture, and as necellary to confirm any Ar- zones, tan- ticle of Faith, and to preſcribe Rules for the regula- 944m %",";0, 10g of manners; and therefore to be embraced with vel a Spiritu the like aftetion of Piety, and received with the ſame Sando ditie- Teltgious Reverence, under peril of the moſt dread- ts een as full Lnathema. And now Lappeal tothe judgment of reverentia ſuſ- any ſober conſiderate man , whether ſuch Doctrines es 3 qui 35 theſe are agreeable tothe Tenor of the Goſpel, and auten ſciens & becoming the Miniſters of Chriſt, or not rather prudens con- Highly derogatory to the dignity and honour of his im of 4 Majeſty, as being palpably erroneous, and horridly blaſphemous , if tried by the Scriptures of the Old and * New Teſtament, which are the only Canon of Faith and good manners. We have hitherto conſidered the Doctrine of the Textz which was naturally contained in the two for- mer Particulars that the Apoſtles and all other Per- ſons lawfully Conſecrated into their Spiritual Office , are the Miniſters of Chriſt, and the Stewards of the Myſte- ries of God. * Now both the Nature of the precedeing Diſcourſe, and the Order of the Method propounded , require our conſideration concerning the latt Particu- lar 3 which contains Two practical Inferences _ ce -» $ : % (25) ced from the truth of the Apoſtles Aſſertion : One re- ſpeCting the men to whom theſe Perſons are employed as Mimiters and Stewards : Zet a man ſo account of Us,-- The, other relating to tne Perſons themſelves, to whom this Office is committed : Moreover *tis requi- red in Stewards, that a man be found faithful ; both which are a compleat and neceſlaryApplication to our preſent diſcourſe, and require our moſt ſerious conſideration. Firſt concerning the men to whom theſe Perſons are employed us Miniſters and Stewards 3 the Apoſtle de- livers this exhortation, Zet a man ſo account of Us ; which words will eaſily admit of a double Expoliti- on , and thereby preſent the Laity with a Two- fold duty concerning their reſpect and carriage to the Clergy. Firſt, That they ſet no greater value upon them.Secondly,That they account ſo worthily of them, as of the Miniſters of Chriſt, and Stewards of the Goſpel. Firſt, That men et no greater value upon the Mi- niſters of the Goſpel, than what their Office and em- ployment requires: They are the Miniſters of Chriſt , not Miniſters of their Peoples Conſciences : They are the Stewards of God , not Land over any mens Faith z *tis therefore unreaſonable for men to terminate their glory in the worth and excellency of thoſs that dil- penſe the Myſteries of Salvationz and a pride, not much inferior to that of Herod, for thele to take ſuch honour to themſelves : It was this Oftentation in the People, and this Ambition among ſome of the Clergy, that occaſioned thoſe Schiſims and Diviſions in the Church of Corith , when the Chriſtian Converts in the Regions of 4haia adhered ſo implicitely to the Authority of choſe Miniſters from whom they received the Faith, that they ſlighred and di[regarded the Preaching of others; whilſt they magnitied the Di- | D 2 Ctates | (26) Qates of thetr own Apoſtles, as men inould adore the Oracles of God : For this reaſon I conceive the Apoſtle {o ſharply reproves their erroneous concelt , I Coy. x. 