§. XXIV.
Quest. 3. The Work of a Minister. Having thus spoken of the Call and Qualifications of a Gospel-Minister, that which comes next to be considered, is, What his proper Work is, how, and by what Rule, he is to be ordered? Our Adversaries do all along go upon Externals, and therefore have certain prescribed Rules and Methods, contrived according to their human and earthly Wisdom: We, on the Contrary, walk still upon the same Foundation, and lean always upon the immediate Assistance and Influence of that Holy Spirit, which God hath given his Children, to teach them all Things, and lead them in all Things: The Holy Spirit, a Spirit of Order, and not of Confusion.Which Spirit, being the Spirit of Order, and not of Confusion, leads us, and as many as follow it, into such a comely and decent Order as becometh the Church of God. But our Adversaries, having shut themselves out from this immediate Counsel and Influence of the Spirit, have run themselves into many Confusions and Disorders, seeking to establish an Order in this Matter. Popish Orders and Offices, &c.For some will have First a chief Bishop, or Pope, to rule and be a Prince over all; and under him, by Degrees, Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Priests, Deacons, Sub-deacons; and besides these, Acoluthi, Tonsorati, Ostiarii, &c. And in their Theology (as they call it) Professors, Bachelors, Doctors, &c. And others would have every Nation independent of another, having its own Metropolitan or Patriarch; and the rest in Order subject to him, as before. Others again are against all Precedency among Pastors, and constitute their Subordination not of Persons, but of Powers: As first the Consistory, or Session; then the Class, or Presbytery; then the Provincial; and then the National Synod or Assembly. Thus they tear one another, and contend among themselves concerning the Ordering, Distinguishing, and making their several Orders and Offices; Wars and Bloodshed about Church Government.concerning which there hath been no less Contest, not only by Way of verbal Dispute, but even by Fighting, Tumults, Wars, Devastations, and Bloodshed, than about the Conquering, Overturning, and Establishing of Kingdoms. And the Histories of late Times are as full of the various Tragedies, acted on Account of this Spiritual and Ecclesiastical Monarchy and Commonwealth, as the Histories of old Times are of the Wars and Contests that fell out both in the Assyrian, Persian, Greek and Roman Empires: These last upon this Account, though among those that are called Christians, have been no less bloody and cruel than the former among Heathens, concerning their outward Empires and Governments. The Ground and Cause thereof.Now all this, both among Papists and Protestants, proceedeth, in that they seek in Imitation to uphold a Form and Shadow of Things, though they want the Power, Virtue and Substance; while for many of their Orders and Forms they have not so much as the Name in the Scripture. But in Opposition to all this Mass of Formality, and Heap of Orders, Rules and Governments, we say, The Substance is chiefly to be sought after, and the Power, Virtue and Spirit, is to be known and waited for, which is one in all the different Names and Offices the Scripture makes Use of; as appears by 1 Cor. xii. 4. (often before-mentioned) There are Diversities of Gifts, but the same Spirit. And after the Apostle, throughout the whole Chapter, hath shewn how one and the self-same Spirit worketh in and quickeneth each Member; then in Ver. 28. he sheweth how thereby God hath set in the Church, First Apostles, Secondly Prophets, Teachers, &c. And likewise to the same Purpose, Ephes. iv. 11; he sheweth, how by these Gifts he hath given some Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, some Pastors, some Teachers, &c. Now it never was Christ’s Purpose, nor the Apostles, that Christians should, without this Spirit and Heavenly Gift, set up a Shadow and Form of these Orders, and so make several Ranks and Degrees, to establish a carnal Ministry of Men’s making, without the Life, Power and Spirit of Christ: The Work of Antichrist and Mystery of Iniquity.This is that Work of Antichrist, and Mystery of Iniquity, that hath got up in the dark Night of Apostasy. But in a true Church of Christ, gathered together by God, not only into the Belief of the Principles of Truth, but also into the Power, Life and Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God is the Orderer, Ruler and Governor; as in each Particular, so in the General. Such as the Spirit sets apart to the Ministry, their Brethren hear them.And when they assemble together to wait upon God, and to worship and adore him; then such as the Spirit sets apart for the Ministry, by its divine Power and Influence opening their Mouths, and giving them to exhort, reprove, and instruct with Virtue and Power; these are thus ordained of God and admitted into the Ministry, and their Brethren cannot but hear them, receive them, and also honour them for their Work’s Sake. The Clergy and Laicks.And so this is not monopolized by a certain Kind of Men, as the Clergy (who are to that Purpose educated and brought up as other carnal Artists) and the rest to be despised as Laicks; but it is left to the free Gift of God to choose any whom he seeth meet thereunto, whether Rich or Poor, Servant or Master, Young or Old, yea, Male or Female. Women may preach.And such as have this Call, verify the Gospel, by preaching not in Speech only, but also in Power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much Fulness, 1 Thess. i. 5. and cannot but be received and heard by the Sheep of Christ.