§. XVI.
Proof 3.Thirdly, That this Grace and Gift is a necessary Qualification to a Minister, is clear from that of the Apostle Peter, 1 Pet. iv. 10, 11. As every Man hath received the Gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God. If any Man speak, let him speak as the Oracles of God: If any Man minister, let him do it as of the Ability which God giveth; that God in all Things may be glorified through Jesus Christ; to whom be Praise and Dominion for ever, Amen. From which it appears, that those that minster must minister according to the Gift and Grace received; but they that have not such a Gift, cannot minister according thereunto. The ministering must be by the Gift and Grace received.Secondly, As good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God: But how can a Man be a good Steward of that which he hath not? Can ungodly Men, that are not gracious themselves, be good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God? Good Stewardship of what? Of God’s abounding Grace, which is the Ability and Stewardship received.And therefore in the following Verses he makes an exclusive Limitation of such that are not thus furnished, saying, If any Man speak, let him speak as the Oracles of God; and if any Man minister, let him do it as of the Ability that God giveth: Which is as much as if he had said, they that cannot thus speak, and thus minister, ought not to do it: For this [If] denotes a necessary Condition. Now what this Ability is, is manifest by the former Words, to wit, the Gift received, and the Grace whereof they are Stewards, as by the immediate Context and Dependency of the Words doth appear. Neither can it be understood of a mere natural Ability, because Man in this Condition is said not to know the Things of God, and so he cannot minister them to others. And the following Words shew this also, in that he immediately subjoineth, that God in all Things may be glorified; but surely God is not glorified, but greatly dishonoured, when natural Men, from their mere natural Ability, meddle in spiritual Things, which they neither know nor understand.
Proof 4.Fourthly, That Grace is a most necessary Qualification for a Minister, appears by those Qualifications which the Apostle expresly requires, 1 Tim. iii. 2. Tit. i. &c. where he saith, A Bishop must be blameless, vigilant, sober, of good Behaviour, apt to teach, patient, a Lover of Good Men, just, holy, temperate, as the Steward of God, holding fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught. Upon the other Hand, He must neither be given to Wine, nor a Striker, nor covetous, nor proud, nor self-willed, nor soon angry. How can a Bishop have these Virtues without the Grace of God?Now I ask, If it be not impossible that a Man can have all these above-named Virtues, and be free of all these Evils, without the Grace of God? If then these Virtues, for the producing of which in a Man Grace is absolutely necessary, be necessary to make a true Minister of the Church of Christ according to the Apostle’s Judgment, surely Grace must be necessary also.
Whatsoever is done in the Church without the Ministry of God’s Spirit, is vain and wicked.Concerning this Thing a learned Man, and well skilled in Antiquity, about the Time of the Reformation, writeth thus: “Whatsoever is done in the Church, either for Ornament or Edification of Religion, whether in choosing Magistrates or instituting Ministers of the Church, except it be done by the Ministry of God’s Spirit, which is as it were the Soul of the Church, it is vain and wicked. For whoever hath not been called by the Spirit of God to the great Office of God and Dignity of Apostleship, as Aaron was, and hath not entered in by the Door, which is Christ, but hath otherways risen in the Church by the Window, by the Favours of Men, &c. truly such a one is not the Vicar of Christ and his Apostles, but a Thief and Robber, and the Vicar of Judas Iscariot and Simon the Samaritan. Who is Judas Iscariot’s Vicar?Hence it was so strictly appointed concerning the Election of Prelates, which holy Dionysius calls the Sacrament of Nomination, that the Bishops and Apostles who should oversee the Service of the Church should be Men of most intire Manners and Life, powerful in sound Doctrine, to give a Reason for all Things.” So also another,[87] about the same Time, writes thus: “Therefore it can never be, that by the Tongues or Learning any can give a sound Judgment concerning the holy Scriptures, and the Truth of God. Lastly,” saith he, “the Sheep of Christ seeks nothing but the Voice of Christ, which he knoweth by the Holy Spirit, wherewith he is filled: He regards not Learning, Tongues, or any outward Thing, so as therefore to believe this or that to be the Voice of Christ, his true Shepherd; he knoweth that there is Need of no other Thing but the Testimony of the Spirit of God.”
[87] Franciscus Lambertus Avenionensis, in his Book concerning Prophecy, Learning, Tongues, and the Spirit of Prophecy. Argent. excus. Anno 1516, de Prov. Cap. 24.