Numb. II. APT END! X, To the Second Argument, Whereas youdoubt not to fay, That if you anfwer mewell in this, you carry the whole Caufe afore you. I %hall fo fargratify you as to acknowledge that yoú have tùfficiently anfwered it, though I muff alfo pro- ` felt that I cannot find wherein you have given a-formal anfwer to it. For the ` Apex, or the Quickof the Argument (as you are pleafed to phrafe it) was laid down in. this Propofition [That there is no where in Scripture fuch a Form . of ` Words as thefe. [That they that are thus and thus qualified may Preach the `. Word.] Now to this you anfwer, That :there is quoad fenfum. And I reply, That this will force .my turn, ifyou do but make it our : But Ilay, that I cannot ` find it in your Papas. You urgefix Particulars prefently, fromwhence, I fuppofe; s you intend to do it. But at length, your lèlffall betide the Quellion in thewind- ' ing themup. For whereasyou fay, that theForm in the Law was not only thus: ' [That they that Preach the Word-mull be thus and thus qualified ;) but [That a they that are thús and thus qualified may be appointed to Preach the Word] I ` think you are befide theQueltion. For I did not engageyou to prove tharthere a were in Scripture fuch a Formof Words as this : [Bur they that are thus and thus a Qualified (hall be appointed to Preach] but (That Men thus and thus qualified may ` Preach the Word, or have in being lo. qualified, Authority to preach the Word.] ` betwixt which two Propofitions I conceive there is much Difference: It is one thing to fay,.[That they that are thus and thus qualified may be appoint- ed, that is, may have Authority given them to preach the Word.] And it is a ` far different thing to fay, [That they that are thus and thus qualified may preach ` or have de fig-to Authority to Preach, being lò qualified.! And being ufed as ` Mediums in a Syllogifm will produce very different Conclnfions. For Example, Suppofe we could find fuch a Form of Words in Scriptureas thefe, [That they ' that are thus and thus qualified maypreach the Word :] And make this theMajorin ` the Syllogifm.Then any tingle Rerfon or Individuumas could infallibly framehimfel f ` into the Alfumption thus, LBut I am thus and thus qualified J: might infallably a1= fo makeout his Cominiffion to preach into this Conclufion : Ergo, I have Audio- ' rity topreach the Word. Andwithout any thing todo with further Ordination might prefently go about the Work: The Word giving him his Commillion, and I confefs were there fuch -a Form, would be a fufficient Medium to convey Au- thority as a fufficient Difcoverer of the Will ofGod concerningfuch an Individu- ` um. But then, if there be only fuch a Form as this ; [They that are thus and thus qualified (hall be appointed to Preach the Word :] Then any finglePerfòn or Individuum, having fink fitted himfelf into the Minor thus, [But I am thusand thus qualified] could make no other Conclufion but this : Ergo, I may be appointed to Preach the Word; which Conclufion, as 1 never did deny, fo it is little Advan- tage for you to have proved : For the Queflion is not whether the Word doth di- ' re&who (hall be appointed to Preach: But whether the.Word doth immediately, by an immediateApplication of fomethingimmediarely, by an immediate Appli- cationof fomething in its felf to an Individuum, conveigh Authority into that In- ' dividuum to Preach, fo as there (hall be no needof further appointing or commie ` finning from Church-Officers : which it would have done if there had been fuch a Senfe in the Word as I required. But no filch matter, though there fhould.be fucha Senfe as you produce : For I cannot yield that which you conceive we are both agreed in; viz. That when the Word hath defcribed the Qualifications of the Minderer, that then there is no more to dobut to difcern or judge who is the the Man that bath thofe Qualifications; for-though theBithop Ihould judge fuch or fuch an Individuum to be fitly qualified for the Miniftry, as difcerning the ` Qualifications which the Word requiresin him ; yet till he.hath by Impofition of Hands, Falling and Prayer, fet him a part for the Work, he is yet no Minifter to ` my underflanding, whatever he may be to yours. But, Sir, 1 confefs, though you have not formalirur anfwered this Argument; yet you have givenme fo much Light from your molt excellent Difcourfe which ' you make from your guineo to the Endof this Second Arguments Reply, that I ` can anfwer it my Pelf. And therefore I (hall, as I faid at the beginning, acknow- ledge that youhave both fatisfied it, and my own fcruputous Mind abour this Quellion : And I do fully confent with you, that though the Succellion of Or- dinarion might he interrupted, yet we may drawour Authority fromChrift by ` the Mediation of the written Word, or indeed by the very Law of Nature, which was a thing I confefs I had not (as your Pelf feems to tax me) duely çonfiderèd. ' But now; having well weighted what Strefs both Laws lay upon all Men to do what good they can when they have an Opportunity and there be a neceffrry of F ' their
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