408 An Expofation upon Chap. its, Interpret. Dottrine. Keafons the ref to be Prophets, John to be a Cryer, Chrift to be a Mediator, Faul to be an Apoffle, Titus to be an Evangelifi, Epaphras to be a Pallor. T I M. How manifold is this vocation or fending ? S I L. Twofold : Firít, immediate from God himfelfe, appointing Pro- phets in the old Teftament, or from Chrift the Sonne of God, calling Apo - files of himfelf, not by men, Gal. t. a. The other is mediate by the Church,ac- cording to fuch order as God bath let in it, that is (as Paul faith) by the hands of the elderfhip, by prayer and fatting, ordaining fuch as be duely ele&ed and examined. T I M. What be the marker and tokens of a true vocation or fending'? S e L. Of ordinary and mediate fen- ding the tokens are found do&rine, godly lit to teach,patience in affliecions, 2 Cor. 6. 5, 6. 2 Tim. 3. 2, 3. Titus r. 8, 9. Matth. 7. 16. Jer. 23 .22. T I M. What dolirines are we to learn from the fe 'lords ? S 1 L. That none muff take upon them the office of a Preacher, unleffe he be fent of God. The reafons hereof be fiat, becaufe fuch as preach without authority and fending, God refufeth them as impoflors and deceivers, Jer. 23.21. afro their whole meffage is void and nothing worth. For as they which ulurpe'the place of Ambafadors with- oat the Princes command or iwflru &i- ons, declare not their princes minde but their ownefancies, and fo lofe their la- bour and endanger themfelves. Like - wife, it is with all fuch as undertake the preaching of the word: without the cal- ling of the Church of Chrift, God will' be prefent to aflift and prote& fuch as himfelf fendeth and appointech, Jo(bua I. 5. T I M. In what cafe are we then here in England, which have no Calling at all, if wee may beleeve either the maliciousPapiffs,or our brown fls, and cenforious Separatifts ? S I L. This is fooner Paid by them then proved: we are able to prove our vocation touching numbers of us, by the integrity both of our doEtrineand lives, and by the fruites of our labours, in convention of many Conies to God, I Cor. 3. 12. Alto for that we are called and chofen by fuch Governors as the Church bath appointed for that end, and to fuch offices as be proper to the true Mitsiflers of Chrift. Further marke this, that the Papifls deny the calling of our Miniflers,becaule it is not after the order of their Romifh Synagogue : yet the Brownifts hereupon challenge the calling of our Minifters to be corrupt, in regard they were cat} in that Popifh mould, as they fay.Latly,though I will not defend perfonall defeas, yet the confutation of our Church for the cal- ling of Minifters cannot be difproved, for it requireth that they be examined; and not to be admitted to fèrve the Church, unlefie they be found fit for life and doftrine : and that hands be laid on the ordained by Each as be El- ders, with prayer, and fatting, and ex- hortation unto the execution of their duties, many of us being defined of our flockes beforehand, or approved after- wards. Where there fubflantiall things are, the want of circumf }antes will not make a nullity. DIALOGUE XI. Verf. 15,16. How beautiful! are the feet of them which bring glad tydings of peace,and glad tydings of good things ! But they have not all obeyed the Go,'pell, &c. TI MOTH Ells. W THat doth this Text containe ? S I L. It proveth two things very needfull : Firít, that the Apoffles were fent of God to preach the Gofpell tinto the Jewes and Gentiles, verle 15. Secondly, that it is not to be mervailed at, although the molt Jewes remained unbeleevers, verle 16. Which is knit to 'the former by a preoccupation; for it might be obje&cd, if Chriff fent his A- pofiles to preach Chrift, and offer peace by him, how comes it to paffe that no MO re Called to preach,non to Sacrifice Coherence
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