278 SERMONS upon Serm.3 a. I Anfwer. a. The firft Reformers, molt of tl)em had a lawful Call, being Paftors and Teachers before the Reformation. And tho they had it from Antichrift, as Come plead, or the Popilh Clergy, yet that did not make it lets valid. The Apoftles fay of Judas, A&s r. 17. He was numbred with as, and had obtained part of this Miniflry. Wicked parr, in foro Ecclefiß, was a true and lawful Apoftle, and whatever he did by Virtue of his Office, was valid and lawful. So the Roman Clergy, they have obtained part of this Miniftry with us, and in foro Eccleîe, at leaft before the Reformation, were lawful Mi- nifters ; it is difputable, whether as yet God bath given fuch a total Divorce, that all their Ecclefiaftical Acts are Nullities. 2. Others were furred up by the fpecial inllin& of the Holy Ghoft to undertake the Work, and being received of their own Churches, their Call was valid. For things of Order, mull give way to things of abfolute Necefiity ; and where an ordinary Calling cannot be had, God calleth Men out of Order. It is the Duty of all Saints to contend for the Faith ; and when God, by a fpecial initin &, ftirreth up Holy Men to do this Work, they are thereby authorized ; efpecially when there is a general De- fe &ion and Corruption among the Officers of the Church ; Who would expect the Re- formation of Stews from Bawds and Panders ? It is neceffary the Church fhould have Paltors and Teachers ; and where Ordination cannot be had, the Ele&ion and Confent of the People fufficeth, God efpecially accompanying them with his Pretence, and the Men being furnilhed with Gifts and neceffary Qualifications, both as to Life and Do- ctrine, for that Office. ad Objell. or Cafe. What (hall be done in cafe of propagating the Gofpe!, where no lawful Call can be had, or all die at a time ? I Anfwer ; In extraordinary Cafes, God fupplieth the Want by extraordinary Ways; that may be done at one time, that is not lawful at another, efpecially in matter of Or- der, as eating the Shew -bread in cafe of Neceflìty. Edefias and Fr: menhirs, travel- ling into the Indies, had an opportunity of Cpreading the Gofpel ; tho the laft after- wards returned, and was ordained by Athanafius. Natural Bodies have their ordinary Qualities ; yet, ad fugam vocal, they a& contrary to them, as Water will afcend con- trary to the gravity of it. Before Deacons were inflituted, the Apoilles ferved Ta- bles, tho it was a thing not meet for them. Acts 6. a. It is not reafon that we fhould leave the Word of God, and ferve Tablet. `Philip, of a Deacon, was made an extraor- dinary Evangelift, As 8. SERMON XXXII. JOHN XVII. 18. As thou haft font me into the World, even fo have I alfo Pent them into de World. Secondly, Now come to (peak of the Dignity that is put upon them that are cal- led to the Work of the Miniltry ; they are Cent by Chrift as his De- puties and Ambaffadors, as thofe who imperforate Chrilt, and repre- Cent him to the World. 2 Cor. q. so. 1aairip xersx zv zrgscpsvotaev, Wherefore we are Ambafidors for Cbrifl, as tho God did befeech you by us, roe pray you, in Chrifl's (lead, be ye reconciled to God. Minifters are lent out as Chrift's Proxies. Here I Iball thew r. Who
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