§. VI.
Proof 4.Pastors, Teachers, and Scriptures are given for perfecting of the Saints. Fourthly, This Doctrine renders the Work of the Ministry, the Preaching of the Word, the Writing of the Scripture, and the Prayers of holy Men, altogether useless and ineffectual. As to the first, Ephes. iv. 11. Pastors and Teachers are said to be given for the Perfection of the Saints, &c. until we all come in the Unity of the Faith, and of the Knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect Man, unto a Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ. Now if there be a Necessity of sinning daily, and in all Things, then there can be no Perfection; for such as do so cannot be esteemed perfect. And if for effectuating this Perfection in the Saints the Ministry be appointed and disposed of God, do not such as deny the Possibility hereof render the Ministry useless and of no Profit? Seeing there can be no other true Use assigned, but to lead People out of Sin into Righteousness. If so be these Ministers assure us that we need never expect to be delivered from it, do not they render their own Work needless? What needs Preaching against Sin, for the reproving of which all Preaching is, if it can never be forsaken? Our Adversaries are Exalters of the Scriptures in Words, much crying up their Usefulness and Perfection: Now the Apostle tells us, 2 Tim. iii. 17. That the Scriptures are for making the Man of God perfect; and if this be denied to be attainable in this Life, then the Scriptures are of no Profit; for in the other Life we shall not have use for them. It renders the Prayers of the Saints altogether useless, seeing themselves do confess they ought to pray daily that God would deliver them from Evil, and free them from Sin, by the Help of his Spirit and Grace, while in this World. But though we might suppose this Absurdity to follow, that their Prayers are without Faith, yet were not that so much, if it did not infer the like upon the holy Apostles, who prayed earnestly for this End, and therefore no Doubt believed it attainable, Col. iv. 12. Labouring fervently for you in Prayers, that ye may stand perfect, &c. 1 Thess. iii. 13. and v. 23, &c.