§. VI.
A Popish, corrupt Ministry all Evils follow.But the Popish Errors concerning the Ministry, which they have retained, are most of all to be regretted, by which chiefly the Life and Power of Christianity is barred out among them, and they kept in Death, Barrenness and Dryness: There being nothing more hurtful than an Error in this Respect. Like People, like Priest. Hosea 4. 9.For where a false and corrupt Ministry entereth, all Manner of other Evils follow upon it, according to that Scripture Adage, Like People, like Priest: For by their Influence, instead of ministering Life and Righteousness, they minister Death and Iniquity. The whole Backslidings of the Jewish Congregation of old are hereto ascribed: The Leaders of my People have caused them to err. The whole Writings of the Prophets are full of such Complaints; and for this Cause, under the New Testament, we are so often warned and guarded to beware of false Prophets, and false Teachers, &c. What may be thought then, where all, as to this, is out of Order; where both the Foundation, Call, Qualifications, Maintenance, and whole Discipline are different from and opposite to the Ministry of the Primitive Church; yea, and necessarily tend to the Shutting out of a Spiritual Ministry, and the bringing in and establishing of a Carnal? This shall appear by Parts.