460 Churcb.Hrfizor,y of Bifhvps CHAP. XIV. LEft this treatife be miftaken&abufed tothe difh nour ofthe Chriftian Religion, Church or Miniftry I adde twopapers wëricl, I longagoe publithed for the. Miniftry i. Againft profane Malignants, z. Againft Seétarians, efpecially thofe called Seekers, as alto Papifts & others that for interelt or fackion, deny or vilifie the Paftors. One fleet for the Miniftry Againf the Malignants of all forts. AS mans fiat felicity was attended with the malice of the Ser- pent, fo is the wonderful work of hisReftauration, The.promife of Reconciliation by the feedof the woman, is joyned with a proclamation ofopen war with the Serpent and his feed. The 'enmity was hotteft in the Devil and his feedagainfi Chrift himfelf, who bare and overcame it ; and is become the Captain of our falvation, that his Church may overcome by his Erofs and Strength, and Conduct; The next degree of malice is a= gainft his officers: the molt eminent, the General Officers had the .hotteft affault; and his ordinary Officers bear the next : That wefhall be hated ofall men for the name of Chrift, ( Mat. zo.2a.) is Hill verified to our experience.- Not only theopenly prophane abhor us for our work fake, but falfe-hearted profeffors that turn from the truth , do prefently turn Malignants againfi the Miniftry ; and many weak ones that are better minded, are dangeroufly feduced into aguilt ofthe fedition. To all thefe Ihereproclaim in the nameand word of the Lord, Numb, z6.26. [Depart Iprayyou from the tents of thefe wickedmen, and touch nothing of theirs, leff ye be confirmed ìnall their fins.] Which null now open to you. a. The office of the Miniiry is an undoubted Ordinance of God, to continue in the Chnrgh to the endof the world.. No man can pretend that they ceafedwith the Apolles, for it is Gods will that ordinary fixed Presbyters !hall be ordained in every Church,. Atlr. 54.23. Tit. 2.5. z 7im, 3.1. 2 Tim. 2.2. And Pafiors and Teachers are appointed forthe per- feQing ofthe Saintst, for the work of the Miniftry, and edifying of the body ofChrift, till we all come tnaperfect man, Ephef 4. 15, 12, t 3. A Minifiryy authorized to Difciple the Nations, baptize and teach them, is 3nflitutedby Chrift as,King and Saviour, and have his Promife -to be with them alway to the end of the world, Mat. 28. 18, 59, 20. The fame ne- ceflity and work continueth ; fill fouls are born and bred in darknefs, and. how !hall they be Caved without believing, or believe without hearing, or hear without preaching, or we preach without fending ? Rom. zo. 1 ;.. 14, 15.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=