84 A DISCOURSE ON with it for its discharge, as in Eph. iv. 7, 8, &c. then to call any to theministry whom he bath not so previously gifted, is to set him aside, and to act in our own names and authority. And by reason of these things the Holy Ghost is said to make men overseers of the flock who are thus-called thereunto, because both the communica- tion of power in the constitution of the law, andof spirit- ual gifts by internal effectual operation, are from him alone, Acts xx. 28. (3.) The outward way and order whereby a church may call any person unto the office of the ministry among them and over them, is by their joint solemn submission unto him in the Lord, as unto all the powers and duties of this office, testified by their choice and election of him. It is concerning this out- ward order that all the world is filled with disputes a- bout the call of men unto the ministry, which yet in truth is of the least concernment therein: for whatever manner or order be observed herein, if the things be- fore-mentioned -be not premised thereunto, it is of no validity or authority. On the other hand, grant that the authority of the ministry dependeth on the law, ordinance, and institution of Christ, that he calls men unto this office by the collation of spiritual gifts unto them, and that the actings of the church herein is but an instituted moral means of communicating office- power from Christ himselfunto any ; and let but such other things be observed as the light and law of nature requireth in cases of an alike kind, and the outward mode of the church's acting herein need not much be contended about. It may be proved to be a beam of truth, from the light of nature, that no man should be imposed on a church for their minister against their wills, or without their express consent; considering that his whole work is to be conversant about their un- derstandings,judgments, wills, and affections; and that this should be done by their choice and election, as the scripture doth manifestly declare, Numb. viii. 9, 10. Acts i. 23, 26. Acts vi. 85. Acts xiv. 23. so that it was for some agesobserved sacredly in the primitive churches, cannot modestly be denied. But how far any people or church may commit over this power of declaring their consent and acquiescency unto others to act for them, and, as it were, in their stead, so as that the call to of- fice should yet be valid, provided the former rules be observed, I will not much disputewith any, though I approve only of what maketh the nearest approaches to THE HOLY SPHteT, the primitive pattern that the circumstances of things are capable of. (4.) The Lord Christ continueth his bestowing of this gift, by the solemnordinance ofsetting apart those who are called in the manner declared, by fastingand prayer, and impositionofhands, Acts xiv. 23. chap. xiii. 2. 1 Tim. iv. IC By these means, I say, doth the Lord Christ continue to declare, that he accounts men faithful, and puts them into the ministry, as the a- postle speaks, 1 Tim. i. 12. 12. There are yet remaining sundry things in the passage of the apostle, which we now insist on, that de- clare the eminency of this gift of Christ, which may yet be farther briefly considered:: As, (6.) The end why it is bestowed; and this is expressed, (1.) Positively, as to the good and advantage of the church thereby, ver. 12. (2.) Negatively, as to its prohibition and hlnderence of evil, ver. 14. In the end of it, as positively expressed, three things may be considered: (1.) That it is zgos roe M ragr,o o, r áreo, that is, for the gathering of the saints into complete church order.. The subject-matter of this part of their duty is the saints, that is, by calling and profession; such as are all the disciples of Christ. And that which is effected towards- them is ,00agz,uos, their coagmentation, jointing, or compacting into order. So the word signifies, Gal. vi. 1. And this effect is here declared, ver. 16. It is true, the saints mentioned may come together into some initial church-order, by their consent and agreement to walk together in all the ways. of Christ, and in obedience unto all hisinstitutions, and so become a church essentially before they have any or- dinary pastor or teacher, either by the conduct ofextra- ordinary officers, as at first, or though obedience unto their word; whence elders were ordained among those who were in church-state, that is, thus far before, Acts xiv. 28. but they cannot come to that perfection and completeness which is designed unto them. That which renders a church completely organical, the proper seat and subject of all gospel- worship and ordinances, is the gift of Christ in the ministry. But it may be asked, whether a church before it come into this ouooeeo-sos, or completeness, before it path any minister in office, or have by any means lost the ministry among them, may not delegate or appoint some one or more from among themselves for toadminister all the ordinances of the gospel among them, and unto them, and by that means make up their own perfection?
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