( 1 3 ) ned, a common work, any more then preaching to the Church Occafionally ex Ch ritate, only another man may do it. But exOfficio, as a work that we are feparated and fer a part to and entrufled with, foonly Miniflers may do it.No man hath the Power of Office ; but he that bath the Dut3 or Obligation, to make it the trade or bufinefs of his life, to preach the Gofpel ( though bodily matters may come in oñ the by. ) Se&. í 3. 6.Hence it appears that aman is inorder ofNAtstre a Preacher ofthe Gefpel in General, before he be the Paflor of a particuher flock: though in time they often gotogether : that is, when a man is ordained to fuch a particular flock. See. 14. 7. And hence it follows that á manmay beordain- td fine Titulo or without a particular charge, where the Coa- verting preparatory work is firft to be done. Se& r s . 8. And hence it appeareth thata Minif}er is firft in order related to the unbelieving world, as theobject of his firft work, before he be related to the Church exiftent : either Ca. tholick or particular : And that he is under Chrift firlt a Spiri- tual Father, to beget childrenunto God, from the unbelieving world, and then a 6overnour of them. If othershave already converted them to our hands, and faved us that part of our work, yet that overthroweth not the order of the parts and works ofour office, though it hinder the execution of the firft part (it being done to our hands by others in that office.) Sect. 16. g. The fecond part of the Minifters work is about Believers meerly converted,together with their Children, whom they yet have power toDedicate to God : And that is to Inveft them in the Rights ofa Chriflian, by Baptifm in folemn Cove- nantingwith God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And thefe are the next Material objectsof our Office. Many ofthe Ancients (Tértullianby name, and theCoun- cil of Eliberis ) thought that in cafe ofNeceffity, a Lay-man ( though not a Woman) mayBaptize ; If that be granted,yet muff not men therefore pretendaNeceffity where there is none. But I am fatisfied' t. That Baptifm by a a private man, is not eanomise a 'Nullity, \nôr to be done again : z. Andyet that it is not only a part of thefdiniftermwork to Baptize and approve them that are to be Baptized, exofficio, but that it isone ofthe greateil and highefladiosof his office ; Even an eminent ex- crçife
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