Numb. H. 11PP ENDIX. à5 though in fuogoitre it be fufficient, yet other things muff concur in their kind a1fo, viz. For the Qualification of the Subjeá ; whereof one is the effeá of Nature, Art, and Grace,, that is Abilities ; anotherof theSpirit, that is Willingne(s, which may alto be moved by other Caufes ; and the third of Providence, viz. Oppòrru- nity. 2. Magiffrates Conffitution in the faid Cafe Of Minifterial failing, is a fur- ther Medium difìiná from Scripture. So that if Minifersfail, Magiffrates are the, Judges ; if both fail, the People have fine regemine judicium difcretionia: TheirJudg= ment of Difcretionhath .a fufficient Objeá and,Difcovery ofGods efficient Confli- tution. r: In the Law, which is then the inlìrumental Efficient. a: In the Per- fons Abilities. ;. His Willingnefs. 4. The Peoples own Willingnel. S. Oppor- tunity. You add (the giving of Authority which we talk of is an Aáion termina- ted upon anIndividuum in this Age: But the Scripture meddlesnot with any of the Individuume of thefe Times : Ergo) I fuppofe by (meddles not with) you mean (ter. minateth it not on). The Minor, which you knew I would deny, you prove thus (if it do, either quoadnomen, or quoad adjunc`ium edited incommunicabile, or per defcrip- tiámm ) I anfwer, per defcriptionemabadjundia, but it is not always neceffary that that they be incommunicable, at leali mofe of them ; for God may polfrbly pro- pound to the People more than one or two that may feem fit, and leave them to choofe, and fo their Choice shall be the thing that makes the difference, andGod Thereupon convey the Power. You add (if the Word do it by defctiption, -itmuff be by fome filch Form of Words ; They that are thus and ,thus qualified may be Minifers of the Word : But there is no fach Form : Erga) I anfwer, I fuppofe that by (Form) you mean, quoad fenfum, and not quoad verba. And then I fay; there is fuels a Sentence in the Law as this, if by (thus and thus Qualified) you in- clude all the Signs that were before expreffed. And becaufe we are now at the Quick, I will not put you offwith the barepart ofa Refpondent, but give you the Reafons of my denying your,Minor. I firfi fuppofe it granted, that God bath in his Law determined r. De genre, that there Ihall be Minifers. 2. De fpecié, that there ¡hall beInch forts of Minigers in his Church, and that not only Toad nomen, but Incad defuirionem, & diferentiam confaitutivám, that is the Natureof their Work and Power, the Objeel abone which, and the end to which it is tobeemployed. . That the Perlons are defcribed from their neceffary Qualifications, who"lhall be Subjeás of this Form, a Tim. ;. Tit. r. and in other Places. 4. That all that is now left to be done is but to judge and determine of the particular Perfon, Who is molt capable of this Form, and fo far to be the Mediumof his receiving the Pow- er. ç. That this Judging and'Detetmination mutt be per figa, from the Peïfons Qualifications, agreeing to the -Rule. 6, That God bath made Ecclefiaftleal Offi- cers the ordinary authoritative Judges of thisQueftion, Who is the qualified Per- fon ? Thus much I conjeeture that we are agreed in-; to that the Form in the Law is not only, [They that Preach the Word, fhall be thus and thus qualified,] but [Men thus and thus qualified )hall be appointed to Preach the Word:] Now that which I am to prove is, that the fill part of the Conffitution'remains in force (that there )hall be Minigers thusqualified) though the other Part, concerning the way of their Ordination may ceafe: and that Magiffrates Defignation, or Peo- ples Eleáionupon the difcerning of the Qualifications is a fufficient Nomination óf the Perfon: and fo God dothby his Law convey the Power as truly to the Perlon thus Nominated, as he doth to the Perfon Nominated by aBithop ordinarily t The fame Law beingGod's only In(trument of this Conveyance, whoever nomi- nates. To this end I ¡hall lay down divers Arguments, and though I conclude not 4111 the fame thing, you Ihall fee that, all doth, ad eundem fcopum collimate ; and that either the Obligation to regular miniflerial Ordination may ceafe, or that all ways ceafenot when that ceafeth, or that the other ways are fufficient forNomine- tion of the individual Perfon, and fo of preferving the Exiffenceofthe Species, for theft three arethe things tobe proved. r. Cefj' ante materia cef nt obligatio, fed bit vet cigar vel cease lintel? materia Ergo, The Major is pall queltion : The Minor is proved, I. From the Silence of Scrip- ture ; God hath no where obliged himfelf to give all Churches the Opportunityof regular Minifterial Ordination. 2. From undeniable Experienceof many Places' that could not have Regular Ordination, not only through the Imperfeetion of their own Underftandsngs, not able after utmoft Induftry, to know which was the. regular Way, (for that 1 flicknot on) but alto the moral or naturalImpofíïbility of the thing ; fume living where they could have no Ordination, but upon frnful Terms, as by wicked Oaths or Profeflìons ; as it is throughout theRomilhChurch,. and; Erg., There is-a morel Impofbility; for nape ïnbonef/um e? impofibibi
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