56 A bISCOURSE ON THE IiOpY &PIR1T, whose foundations were laid bythe apostles. For whereas they had the great work upon them, of preaching the gospel unto all nations, they could not continue long or reside in any one place oréhurch. And yet, when persons were newly converted to the faith, and disposed only into an imperfect order, withoutany special peculiarofficers, guides, orrulersoftheir own, it was.not safeleavingofthem unto themselves, lest they should be too much at a lossas to gospel order and worship. Wherefore, in such places where any churches were planted, but not completed, nor would the design of the apostles suffer them to con- thine any longer there; they left these Evangelists among them for a season, who had power, by virtue of their office, to dispose of things in the churches, until they came unto completeness and perfection. When this end was attained, and the churches were settled under or- dinary elders of their own, the Evangelists removed in- to other places, according as they were directed or dif- posed. These things are evident from the instructions given by Paul unto Timothy and Titus, which have all of them respect unto this order- 15. Some thereare who plead for the continuance of this office: some in express ternis, and .under the same name: others for successors unto them, at least in that part of their work which consisteth in power over many churches. Some say that Bishops succeed to the Apostles, and Presbyters unto those Evangelists: but this is scarce defensible in any tolerable manner by them whose inte- rest it is to defend it: for Timothy, whom they would have to be a bishop, is expressly called. an Evangelist. That which is pleaded, with most probability, for their continuance, is the necessityof the ,work wherein they were employed in the rule and settlement .af the churches: but the truth is, if their whole work, as before described, be consulted, as none can perform someparts of it, so it may be very few would over-earnestlypress after a participation of their office. For, to preach the word continually, and that with a peculiar labour and travail, and to move up and down according as the ne- cessity of the edification of the churches doth require, doing nothing in them but according to the rule andap- pointment of Christ, are.things that not many will ear- nestly covet to be engaged in. But there is an appre- hension, that there was something more than ordinary power belonging unto this office, that those who enjoy- ed it were not obliged to labour inany particular church, but had the rule of many churches committed unto them. Now, whereas this power is apt to draw other desirable things unto it, or carry them along with it; this is that which some pretend a succession unto; though they are neither called like them, nor gifted like them, nor labour like them, nor have the same object oftheir employment, much less the samepower of extraordinary operations with them; yet, as to the rule over sundry churches, they must needs be their successors. I shall therefore briefly do these two things: (2.) Shew that lhëre are no such Officers as these Evangelists continued by the will of Christ in the ordinary state and course of the church. (2.) That there is no need of their con- tinuance from any work applied unto them. 16. And, I. The things that are essential unto the office of an Evangelist, are unattainable atpresent unto the church. For whereno command, no rule, no au- thority, nodirections are given for the calling of any of- ficer, there that office must cease, as Moth that of the apostles, who could not be called but by Jesus Christ. What is required unto the call of an Evangelist, was beforedeclared. And unless it can be manifested either by institution or example, how any one may be other- wise called unto that office, no such office can be contin- ued. For a call by prophecy or immediate revelation none now will pretend unto. And other call the Evan- gelists of old had none. 17. Nor is there in the scripture the least mention of thecall or appointment of any oneto be ecclesiastical officer in an ordinary stated church, but with relation unto that church whereof he was, or was to be, an of- ficer. But an Evangelist, as such, was not especially re- lated unto any one church more than another; though, as the apostles themselves, theymight, for a time, attend unto the work in one place or church, rather or more, than another. 'Wherefore, without acall from the Holy Ghost, either immediate by prophecy or revelation, or by the direction of persons infallibly. inspired, as the.a- postles were, none can be called to be Evangelists, nor yet to succeed them under any other name in that office. Wherefore the primitive church, after the apostles time, never once took upon them to constitute or ordain an Evangelist, as knowing it a thingbeyond their rule, and out oftheir power. Men may invade an office when they please, but unless they be called unto it, they must ac- ' count for their usurpation. And as for .thosewho have ï_
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