Ver. i 8. the 17th Chapter of St. J O H N, 7 t Beforel enter upon the Difcuflion, let none take offence, that I apply that to the Miniftry in general, which is fpoken of the Apo(tles in the Text, I have fenY thesis. Which I do for two Ilealons. 1. Partly, becaufe we may compare ordinary Minihers and the Apoftles together, if their Miffion be compared with Chrift's. As Chrift's Miffion had fomething extraordi- nary and peculiar, by which it was diftinguifhed from the Million of the Apoftles ; to the Apoftles Miffion hath fomething peculiar, but both agree in this, that they muff be fent, this they have in common : ICom. to. 14. How can they preach except they be fent;t Mark, the Apoftles were Cent as Chrift was fent, (tho Chrift was fent to redeem, as well as to prophefy and teach) and fo Minifers are Cent, they mull be authorized, as well as the Apoftles, tho the Apoftles had fomewhat peculiar and proper to that Office, as the infallibility of Do &rive, power of working Miracles, the largenefs of their Circuit, which was .the whole World ; whereas ordinary Minifters are let over one Church, and faftned to one place. Again ; the Apoftles were appointed to write Scriptures, and Paftors and Teachers to apply Scripture. The Apoftles were autho- rized by Chrift himfelf, received their Call immediatly from his Mouth ; ordinary Mi- nifters are called by a Power derived : Yet they both agree in this, that they Cerve in the Work of the Golpe! ; and that they are Officers that mull be called and lent ; as not only they are the King's Officers, who are immediatly appointed by the King, but thofe alto that are appointed by fubordinate Powers. 2. Partly, becaufe a part of the Comparifon lieth in this, that as Chrift was fent by God, and had Power to call others; fo the Apoftles were fent by Chrift, and had a Power to fend and conftitute others, and fo the Succeflion was to continue. That this was a part of their Power, appeareth, becaufe Chrift, when he gave them their Commiffion, faith, He will be with them to the end of the World, Mat. 28. 20. that is; with them in their Perlons, and their Succeffors; who are taken into the fame Patent and Commiftion, and have a Power to call others to the end of the World ; and therefore the .dpoflles ordained Elders in every City, Ads 14. 23. And thole Elders or- dained others, as the Apoftle giveth leave to Titus Co to do, Tit. 1. g. For this caufè left I thee in Crete, that thou fhouldefl fetlin order the things that are wanting, and ordain El- ders in every City, as I had appointed thee. Chrift was not only fent to be a Prophet himfelf, but to authorize others : So the Apoftles not only, were fent to preach the Go- lpel themfelves; but to authorize others, and they others, even to the end of the World. This being premifed, f come to handle, Firfl, The lieeefíìty of a Call. That none can enter upon this Work, or upon the Office of the Miniltry without a Call, is, I fuppofe, out of controverfy. All the Difficulty will be to thew you, what a Call is : Gifts meerly do not make a Call, but fomething elfe. Now a Call is either Extraordinary, or Ordinary. s. Extraordinary, and that is an immediate Call from God himfelf, by Voice, Vi= fion, or Oracle, or by Chrift in Perlon. So was Mnfes called to his Office; fo the. Baptifi,fo the A_poffles;and fo alto was haul called,becaufe he had not teen Chrift in Per fon, which it feemeth was neceffary to the Call of On Apoftle, he was called by Chrift appearing from Heaven ; and therefore he faith, Gal. 1. s. Paul an Apofile, not of Men, neither by Man, but by Jefus Chrifi, &c. Now this extraordinary Call may be pretended, but cannot be expelled in there latter dayes. Many have pretended to an extraordi- nary Call. Eufebius in his 6th Book, tells us of Come that pretended they had a Book fent from Heaven, according to which they were to inftrutt their Difcltples. And So- zomen fpeaketh of a Monk, that pretended that the Inftrù &ion that he offered to the Church, was written by an Angel. And fine, in all Ages, efpecially in Ours, do Met: pretend to Illuminations, Teachings, and Voices within. Thus it may be pretended, but it cannot be expelled ; for an immediate extraordinary Calling, bath only place in eftablifhing a new Dottrine : But now the Canon of Faith is clofed up ; This Doctrine, of the Kingdom is to be preached to all Nations, till the end come, Mat. 24. i4. And the Ordinances of the Church are fetled, and put into a ftated coúrfe till Chrift come'; and therefore we cannot reafonably expe& new Miracles, and new Calls. An betides, every extraordinary Call is manifefted by forte Vifion, Miracle, or fpecial EfiEd and Gift of the Holy Ghoft, by which the Truth of that Calling may be made out to others,+
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