(4') The firft State is ceafed; nor can it be continued. For thefeOfficers were confhituted: (,) By an immediate call from Chrift, as was Paul; Gal. i, r, z. which none now are, nor have been fince the deceafe of them who were fo called at firft. (z) By extraordinary Gifts and Power, which Chrift doth not continue to communicate. (3) By Divine Infpiration, and infallible Guidance, both in preach- ing the Word, andappointing things neceflary in the Church- es, ; which none now pretend unto. (4) By Extenfve Commion giving them Power towards all the World for their Converfion, and over all Churches for their Edification. Of thefe Officers, in their diftinétion into Apoftles and Evan- gelifts, with their Call, Gifts, Power, and Work, I have treated at large in my °Difcourfe of Spiritual Gifts. The State and Condition of the Church, with refpe& unto them, is utterly ceafed; and nothing can be more vain, than to pretend, any Succejon unto them, in the whole or anypart oftheir Office, unlefs men can juftify their claim .unto it, by any, or all of thefe things, which concurred unto it in the Apoftles, whichthey cannotdo. But it dothnot hence follow, that the ChurchState infti- tuted by Chrift, did fail thereon, or doth now fo fail; be- caufe it is impoflible, that thefe Apollles fhould have any Succefíors in their Office, or the Difcharge of it. For by the Authority ofthe Lord Chrift, the Church was to be conti- nued under a Binary Officers, without the Call, Gifts, or Power of the others that were to ceafe. Under thefe, the Church State was no lefs Divine, than under the former. For there were two things in it ; (i) That the Offices them- felves were of the Appointment of Chrift. And if they were not fo, we confefs the Divine Right ofthe Church- State would have ceafed. The Office of the Apo/Iles and Evangelios was to ceafe, as hath been declared; and it did ceafe aEtually, in that Chrift after them did call no more un- G to
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