Ver.18. the i7thChapter of St. j O H N. 275- without a Call. Origen's Errors are by many afcribed to his negle& or want of Ordi- nation. And the .Arrians, (faith the Synod of .Alexandria) were, Famfi vitio fad creationis, infamous for want of a right Call to the Miníftry, and therefore íe11 into that damnable Error. 3. In regard of your felves, that you may digeft Difficulties with the more Patience. You can never endure any thing with comfort, but when you can thus fay, I am in God's way, doing God's Work, This is a great ground of Patience. Conscience in a time of Danger, will take hold of the leaft faulty Circumfiance. V eah had little comfort in his Broke, becaufe he was out of God's way Jude t I. Wo unto them, for they beve gone in the way of Cain, &c. and perifbed in the Gainfaying of Korah. Korah was a fad inftance ! 4. In refpe& of the Church. This External Million is nece(fary, that the Church may receive you comfortably. it is made a Chara &er of Christ's Sheep, not to hear the Voice of a Stranger, John to. 5. nor of such as do not enter in by the Door, Verf. r: And in the Old Teftament it is often laid, Hearken not to them, for I have not feat them, In the Primitive Church this was ltri fly observed ; When Chryfifione was banned, and Arfanius unduly fucceeded him, the People would not fo much as hear him. Theodoren witneffeth, that force of them would rather go into Banishment, than join with him in Publick Wor(hip. So when Felix was set over Rome instead of Liberian, againft the Content of the Church, the People would not enter while he was prefent ; tho Felix was Orthodox, and nothing could be objected againft his Doftrine. This Instance is approved by Luther,in his Comment on the Pfalms of Degrees, and (in his way of Ex- preffton ) he faith, the fame thould be done to an Angel or Arch - Angel, tho he came with never fo good Tidings, if we knew they came without lawful Commiffion. Z1fe a. Information in two things; that the Miniftry is an Office, and a ftanding Office. t. The Miniftry is an Office, not a Work of Charity, which every one mutt per- form, there mutt be fit Perlons Cent; therefore it is Paid, As to. 41. that Chrift ap- peared, Not to all the People, but unto Witnefes chofen before of God, whom he commanded to preach unto the People. Therefore he that cannot fay, he is chofen of God for this work, muff not take this honour upon him, left he run before he be lent, and fo they do but prattle, not preach, for Preaching is an Ordinance. So the Lord Paid to A- nanias concerning Paul, A&s 9. 15. He is a chofen Yesl before me, to bear my Name be- fore the Gentiles, and Kings, and the Children of Ifiael. He is called a chofen Vèjel ; not in regard of Eternal Ele &ion, but in regard of Designation to the Work of the Go- spel. Every one is bound, by the Law of Charity, to use his Gifts to theedificatiotl of others, but 1till in a regular way. A King bath many Subje&s, but all his Subje &s are not Courtiers, and fpecial Servants. All Members of the Church are Subje&s of Chrift's Kingdom, but all are not Officers, for thefe are chofen Members. 2. That the Ministry is a (landing Office. When Chrift was about to depart, then he fendeth Apollles with a Promife, that he would be with them to the end of the World. He Cendeth them, that they may fend others, and fo continue the Succeffion. So that the Apostles are not only fent by Chrift, but the Minifters of the Gofpel virtually, be- ing Cent by Chrift's Deputies.; as they are the King's Officers, that are not only im- mediately created by the King, but by his Power. Still God bath ever had an ordi- nary ftanding Ministry in the Church. In the Old Teftament there were not only Prophets, that were immediately called to deliver God's Meffage, and to write Scrip- ture ; but an ordinary Ministry, to open the Law and the Prophets, and to preferve Knowledg in the Church. Mal. 2.6, 7. The Law of the Truth was in his Mouth, and Ini- quity was not found in his Lips, &c. For the Priefi s Lips fl,ould keep Knowledg, and they f[wald fee( the Law at his Mouth, for be is the Meffinger of the Lord of Hofs. There- fore the ordinary Levites are called vom..031ddo- v ol, Teachers of the Law. in the New Teflamenr, Chrift gave not only Apoftles to write Scripture, but Palors and Teach- ers to open Scripture. Ephef 4. t r. He gave forme, Apoflles; and force, Prophets 5 and finite, Evangel /s ; and fame, Tailors and Teachers. The Bible is not enough for your Edification without this Inlheution ; the fame Chrift that instituted Apo(iles to write Scripture, instituted Paftors and Teachers to open and apply Scripture. This is always neceffaty, tho Religion be never fo throughly planted in a Nation, for we need continual Remembrancers. And the end of Preaching, is not only to learn what we knew not before, but that we may have Spiritual Things always before our Eyes, and Mmmm 2 la
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