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Robert Barclay > Apology for the True
Christian Divinity > Proposition 10: Concerning the Ministry
THE TENTH PROPOSITION
Concerning the Ministry
As by the Light or gift of God all true knowledge in things spiritual is received and
revealed, so by the same, as it is manifested and received in the heart, by the strength and power
thereof every true minister of the Gospel is ordained, prepared and supplied in the work of the
ministry, and by the leading, moving and drawing hereof, ought every evangelist and Christian
pastor to be led and ordered in his labour and work of the Gospel, both as to the place where, as
to the persons to whom, and as to the time wherein he is to minister. Moreover, who have this
authority may and ought to preach the Gospel, though without human commission or literature,
as, on the other hand, who want the authority of this divine gift, however learned or authorized by
the commission of men and churches, are to be esteemed but as deceivers and not true ministers
of the Gospel. Also, they who have received this holy and unspotted gift, as they have freely
received it, so are they freely to give ita
without hire or bargaining, far less to use it as a trade to get money by; yet if God hath called
anyone from their employment or trades by which they acquire their livelihood, it may be lawful
for such, according to the liberty which they feel given them in the Lord, to receive such
temporals (to wit, what may be needful for them for meat and clothing) as are given them freely
and cordially by those to whom they have communicated spirituals.
§I. Hitherto I have treated of those things, which relate
to the Christian faith, and Christians, as they stand each in his private and particular condition, and
how and what way every man may be a Christian indeed, and so abide. Now I come in order to
speak of those things that relate to Christians as they are stated in a joint fellowship and
communion, and come under a visible and outward society, which society is called the
"Church of God," and in Scripture compared to a body, and therefore named the
Body of Christ. As then in the natural body there be divers members, all
concurring to the common end of preserving and confirming the whole body; so in this spiritual
and mystical body there are also divers according to the different measures of Grace, and of the
Spirit diversely administered unto each member; and from this diversity ariseth that distinction of
persons in the visible society of Christians, as of apostles, pastors, evangelists, ministers, &c.
That which in this proposition is proposed, is what makes or constitutes any a minister of the
Church, what his qualifications ought to be, and how he ought to behave himself. But because it
may seem somewhat preposterous to speak of the distinct offices of the Church, until something
be said of the Church in general, though nothing positively be said of it in the proposition, yet, as
here implied, I shall briefly premise something thereof and then proceed to the particular members
of it.
§II. It is not in the least my design to meddle with those
tedious and many controversies wherewith the Papists and Protestants do tear one another
concerning this thing, but only, according to the Truth manifested to me, and revealed in
me by the testimony of the Spirit, according to that proportion of wisdom given me, briefly to
hold forth as a necessary introduction both to this matter of the ministry and of worship which
followeth, those things which I, together with my brethren, do believe concerning the
Church.
The "Church" then, according to the grammatical signification of the word as
it is used in the holy Scripture, signifies an assembly or gathering of many
into one place; for the substantive 
comes
from the word 
, "I call out of,"
and originally from 
, "I call," and
indeed as this is the grammatical sense of the word so also it is the real and proper signification of
the thing, the Church being no other thing but the society, gathering, or company of such as God
hath called out of the world and worldly spirit, to walk in his Light and Life. The church then so
designed is to be considered as it comprehends all that are thus called and gathered truly by God,
both such as are yet in this inferior world and such as having already laid down the earthly
tabernacle are passed into their heavenly mansions, which together do make up the One catholic
Church (concerning which there is so much controversy) out of which Church we freely acknowledge there can be no salvation, because under this church and its
denomination are comprehended all, and as many, of whatsoever nation, kindred, tongue or
people they be (though outwardly strangers and remote from those who profess Christ and
Christianity in words and have the benefit of the Scriptures), as become obedient to the holy Light
and testimony of God in their hearts, so as to become sanctified by it and cleansed from the evils
of their ways. For this is the universal or catholic Spirit by which many are called "from all
the four corners of the earth and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." By this
the secret life and virtue of Jesus is conveyed into many that are afar off, even as by the blood that
runs into the veins and arteries of the natural body, the life is conveyed from the head and heart
unto the extremest parts. There may be members therefore of this catholic Church both among
Heathen, Turks, Jews, and all the several sorts of Christians, men and women of integrity and
simplicity of heart, who though blinded in something in their understanding and perhaps burdened
with the superstitions and formality of the several sects in which they are engrossed, yet being
upright in their hearts before the Lord, chiefly aiming and labouring to be delivered from iniquity
and loving to follow righteousness, are by the secret touches of this holy Light in their souls
enlivened and quickened, thereby secretly united to God, and therethrough become true members
of this catholic Church. Now the Church, in this respect, hath been in being in all generations; for
God never wanted some such witnesses for him, though many times slighted and not much
observed by this world. And therefore this Church, though still in being, hath been oftentimes as
it were invisible, in that it hath not come under the observation of the men of this world, being, as
saith the Scripture (Jer. 3:14), "one of a city, and two of a family." And yet, though
the Church thus considered may be, as it were, hid from wicked men, as not then gathered into a
visible fellowship, yea and not observed even by some that are members of it, yet may there
notwithstanding many belong to it; as when Elias complained he was left alone (1 Kings 19:18),
God answered unto him, "I have reserved to myself seven thousand men who have not
bowed their knees to the image of Baal," whence the apostle argues (Rom. 11) the being of a remnant in his day.
§III. Secondly the Church is to be considered as it
signifies a certain number of persons gathered by God's Spirit, and by the testimony of some of his
servants raised up for that end, unto the belief of the true principles and doctrines of the Christian
faith, who through their hearts being united by the same love, and their understandings informed
in the same truths, gather, meet, and assemble together to wait upon God, to worship him, and to
bear a joint testimony for the Truth against error; suffering for the same; and so becoming through
this fellowship as one family and household in certain respects, do each of them watch over,
teach, instruct and care for one another, according to their several measures and attainments.
Such were the churches of the primitive times gathered by the apostles, whereof we have divers
mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. And as to the visibility of the Church in this respect, there hath
been a great interruption since the apostles' days, by reason of the apostasy, as will hereafter
appear.
§IV. To be a member then of the catholic Church, there
is need of the inward calling of God by his Light in the heart, and a being leavened into the
nature and spirit of it, so as to forsake unrighteousness and be turned to righteousness, and, in the
inwardness of the mind, to be cut out of the wild olive tree of our own first fallen nature and
ingrafted into Christ by his Word and Spirit in the heart. And this may be done in those who are
strangers to the history (God not having pleased to make them partakers thereof) as in the fifth
and sixth propositions hath already been proved.
To be a member of a particular church of Christ, as this inward work is indispensably
necessary, so is also the outward profession of, and belief in Jesus Christ and those holy truths
delivered by his Spirit in the Scriptures, seeing the testimony of the Spirit recorded in the
Scriptures doth answer the testimony of the same Spirit in the heart, even as "face
answereth face in a glass." Hence it follows that the inward work of holiness and forsaking
iniquity is necessary, in every respect, to the being a member in the Church of Christ; and that the
outward profession is necessary to be a member of a particular gathered church, but not to the
being a member of the catholic Church; yet it is absolutely necessary where God affords the
opportunity of knowing it: the outward testimony is to be believed where it
is presented and revealed; the sum whereof hath upon other occasions been already proved.
§V. But contrary hereunto the devil, that worketh and
hath wrought in the "mystery of iniquity," hath taught his followers to affirm that no
man, however holy, is a member of the Church of Christ without the outward profession and that
he be initiated thereunto by some outward ceremonies. And again that men who have this
outward profession, though inwardly unholy, may be members of the true Church of Christ, yea
and ought to be so esteemed. This is plainly to put "light for darkness and darkness for
light"; as if God had a greater regard to words than actions and were more pleased with
vain professions than with real holiness; but these things I have sufficiently refuted heretofore.
Only from hence let it be observed that upon this false and rotten foundation Antichrist hath built
his Babylonish structure, and the Antichristian church in the apostasy hath hereby reared herself
up to that height and grandeur she hath attained, so as to exalt herself "above all that is
called God, and sit in the temple of God, as God."
For the particular churches of Christ gathered in the apostles' days, soon after beginning to
decay as to the inward Life, came to be overgrown with several errors, and the hearts of the
professors of Christianity to be leavened with the old spirit and conversation of the world. Yet it
pleased God for some centuries to preserve that life in many, whom he emboldened with zeal to
stand and suffer for his Name through the ten persecutions. But these being over, the meekness,
gentleness, love, long-suffering, goodness, and temperance of Christianity began to be lost. For
after that the princes of the earth came to take upon them that profession, and that it ceased to be
a reproach to be a Christian but rather became a means to preferment, men became such by birth
and education, and not by conversion and renovation of spirit: then there was none so vile, none
so wicked, none so profane, who became not a member of the church. And the teachers and
pastors thereof becoming the companions of princes, and so being enriched by their benevolence
and getting vast treasures and estates, became puffed up and, as it were, drunken with the vain
pomp and glory of this world, and so marshaled themselves in manifold orders and degrees, not
without innumerable contests and altercations who should have the precedency.b So the virtue, life, substance,
and kernel of the Christian religion came to be lost, and nothing remained but a shadow and
image, which dead image or carcass of Christianity (to make it take the better with the
superstitious multitude of heathens that became engrossed in it, not by any inward conversion of
their hearts or by becoming less wicked or superstitious, but by a little change in the object of
their superstition), not having the inward ornament and life of the Spirit, became decked with
many outward and visible orders, and beautified with the gold, silver, precious stones and the
other splendid ornaments of this perishing world; so that this was no more to be accounted the
Christian religion and Christian Church, notwithstanding the outward profession, than the dead
body of a man is to be accounted a living man, which, however cunningly embalmed, and adorned
with ever so much gold or silver, or most precious stones, or sweet ointments, is but a dead body
still, without sense, life, or motion. For that apostate Church of Rome has
introduced no less ceremonies and superstitions into the Christian profession than was either
among Jews or heathens; and that there is and hath been as much, yea and more pride,
covetousness, unclean lust,1 luxury,
fornication, profanity and atheism among her teachers and chief bishops, as ever was among any
sort of people, none need doubt that have read their own authors, to wit Platina and others.
Now though Protestants have reformed from her in some of the most gross points and
absurd doctrines relating to the church and ministry, yet (which is to be regretted) they have but
lopped the branches but retain and plead earnestly for the same root from which these abuses have
sprung, so that even among them, though all that mass of superstition, ceremonies, and orders be
not again established, yet the same pride, covetousness and sensuality is found to have
overspread and leavened their churches and ministry; and the life, power and virtue of true
religion is lost among them; and the very same death, barrenness, dryness and emptiness is found in their ministry, so that in effect they differ from Papists but in form
and some ceremonies, being with them apostatized from the life and power the true primitive
Church and her pastors were in, so that of both it may be said truly (without breach of charity)
that having only a form of godliness (and many of them not so much as that) they are deniers of,
yea enemies to, the power of it. And this proceeds not simply from their not walking answerably
to their own principles, and so degenerating that way (which also is true), but which is worse,
their setting down to themselves and adhering to certain principles which naturally, as a cursed
root, bring forth these bitter fruits: these therefore shall afterwards be examined and refuted, as
the contrary positions of Truth in the Proposition are explained and proved.
For as to the nature and constitution of a church (abstract from their disputes concerning
its constant visibility, infallibility, and the primacy of the Church of Rome) the Protestants, as in
practice so in principles, differ not from Papists, for they engross within the compass of their
church whole nations, making their infants members of it by sprinkling a little water upon them, so
that there is none so wicked or profane who is not a fellow member, no evidence of holiness being
required to constitute a member of the church; and look through the Protestant nations and there
will no difference appear in the lives of the generality of the one more than of the other; but he
who "ruleth in the children of disobedience" reigning in both, so that the reformation,
through this defect, is but in holding some less gross errors in the notion, but not in having the
heart reformed and renewed, in which mainly the life of Christianity consisteth.
§VI. But the Popish errors concerning the ministry
which they have retained are most of all to be regretted, by which chiefly the life and power of
Christianity is barred out among them, and they kept in death, barrenness and dryness: there being
nothing more hurtful than an error in this respect, for where a false and corrupt ministry entereth,
all manner of other evils follow upon it, according to that Scripture adage, "Like people,
like priest."c For by their influence, instead of ministering life and righteousness, they
minister death and iniquity. The whole backslidings of the Jewish congregations of old is hereto
ascribed: "The leaders of my people have caused them to err." The whole writings of
the prophets are full of such complaints; and for this cause, under the New Testament, we are so
often warned and guarded to "beware of false prophets and false teachers," &c.
What may be thought then, where all, as to this, is out of order, where both the foundation, call,
qualifications, maintenance, and whole discipline are different from, and opposite to the ministry
of the primitive Church, yea and necessarily tend to the shutting out of a spiritual ministry,
and the bringing in and establishing of a carnal? This shall appear by parts.
§VII. Quest. That then, which comes first to be
questioned in this matter, is concerning the call of a minister; to wit, what maketh, or how
cometh a man to be a minister, pastor, or teacher in the church of Christ?
Answ. We answer, by the inward power and virtue of the Spirit
of God. For, as saith our proposition, having received the true knowledge of things spiritual
by the Spirit of God (without which they cannot be known) and being by the same in measure
purified and sanctified, he comes thereby to be called and moved to minister to others, being able
to speak from a living experience of what he himself is a witness; and therefore knowing the terror
of the Lord, he is fit to persuade men, &c. (2 Cor. 5:11), and his words and ministry,
proceeding from the inward power and virtue, reaches to the heart of his hearers and makes them
approve of him and be subject unto him. Our adversaries are forced to confess that this were
indeed desirable and best, but this they will not have to be absolutely necessary. I shall first prove
the necessity of it, and then show how much they err in that which they make more necessary than
this divine and heavenly call.
Arg. First; that which is necessary to make a man a Christian, so as without it he
cannot be truly one, must be much more necessary to make a man a minister of Christianity,
seeing the one is a degree above the other, and has it included in it, nothing less than he, that
supposeth a master, supposeth him first to have attained the knowledge and capacity of a scholar.
They that are not Christians cannot be teachers and ministers among
Christians:
But this inward call, power and virtue of the Spirit of God, is necessary to make a man a
Christian; as we have abundantly proved before in the second proposition, according to these
scriptures: "He that hath not the Spirit of Christ, is none of his." "As many as
are led by the Spirit of God, are the Sons of God":
Therefore this call, moving, and drawing of the Spirit, must be much more necessary to
make a minister.
Secondly, all ministers of the New Testament ought to be ministers of the Spirit, and not
of the letter, according to that of 2 Cor. 3:6, and as the old Latin hath it, "Not by the letter,
but by the Spirit." But how can a man be a minister of the Spirit, who is not inwardly called
by it, and who looks not upon the operation and testimony of the Spirit as essential to his call? As
he could not be a minister of the letter who had thence no ground for his call, yea, who was
altogether a stranger to and unacquainted with it, so neither can he be a minister of the Spirit who
is a stranger to it, and unacquainted with the motions thereof, and knows it not to draw, act, and
move him, and go before him in the work of the ministry. I would willingly know, how those,
that take upon them to be ministers (as they suppose) of the Gospel, merely from an outward
vocation, without so much as being any ways sensible of the work of the Spirit or any inward call
therefrom, can either satisfy themselves or others that they are ministers of the Spirit, or wherein
they differ from the ministers of the letter? For
Thirdly; if this inward call or testimony of the Spirit were not essential and necessary to a
minister, then the ministry of the New Testament should not only be no ways preferable to, but in
divers respects far worse than that of the Law: for under the Law there was a certain tribe allotted
for the ministry, and of that tribe certain families set apart for the priesthood and other offices by
the immediate command of God to Moses, so that the people needed not be in any doubt who
should be priests and ministers of the holy things: yea and besides this, God called forth, by the
immediate testimony of his Spirit, severals, at divers times, to teach, instruct, and reprove his
people, as Samuel, Nathan, Elias, Elisha, Jeremiah, Amos, and many more of the prophets: but
now under the New Covenant, where the ministry ought to be more
spiritual, the way more certain, and the access more easy unto the Lord, our adversaries, by
denying the necessity of this inward and spiritual vocation, make it quite otherways; for there
being now no certain family or tribe to which the ministry is limited, we are left in uncertainty to
choose and have pastors at a venture, without all certain assent of the will of God; having neither
an outward rule nor certainty, in this affair, to walk by; for that the Scripture cannot give any
certain rule in this matter, hath, in the third proposition concerning it been already shown.
Fourthly; Christ proclaims them all "thieves and robbers," that "enter
not by him the door into the sheepfold, but climb up some other way,"d whom the sheep ought not to
hear, but such as come in without the call, movings, and leadings of the Spirit of Christ,
wherewith he leads his children into all Truth, come in certainly not by Christ, who is the
door, but some other way, and therefore are not true shepherds.
§VIII. Obj. To all this they object the
succession of the church, alleging, that, since Christ gave a call to his apostles and disciples, they
have conveyed that call to their successors, having power to ordain pastors and teachers, by
which power the authority of ordaining and making ministers and pastors is successively conveyed
to us, so that such who are ordained and called by the pastors of the church are therefore true and
lawful ministers, and others who are not so called are to be accounted but intruders. Hereunto
also some Protestants add a necessity, though they make it not as a thing essential, that besides
this calling of the church, every one being called ought to have the inward call of the Spirit,
inclining him, so chosen, to his work, but this they say is subjective and not objective, of which
before.
Answ. As to what is subjoined of the inward call of the Spirit, in that they make it
not essential to a true call but a supererogation as it were, it showeth how little they set by it,
since those they admit to the ministry are not so much as questioned, in their trials, whether they
have this or not. Yet in that it hath been often mentioned, especially by the
primitive Protestants in their treatises on this subject, it showeth how much they were secretly
convinced in their minds that this inward call of the Spirit was most excellent, and preferable to
any other; and therefore in the most noble and heroic acts of the reformation they laid claim unto
it, so that many of the primitive Protestants did not scruple both to despise and disown this
outward calle when urged by the Papists
against them. But now Protestants, having gone from the testimony of the Spirit, plead for the
same succession, & being pressed by those whom God now raiseth up by his Spirit to reform
these abuses that are among them with the example of their forefathers' practice against Rome,
they are not at all ashamed utterly to deny that their fathers were called to their work by the
inward and immediate vocation of the Spirit, clothing themselves with that call which they say
their forefathers had as pastors of the Roman church. For thus (not to go further) affirmeth
Nicolaus Arnoldusf in a pamphlet written
against the same propositions, called A Theologic Exercitation, sect. 40, averring that they
pretended not to an immediate act of the Holy Spirit but reformed by the virtue of the ordinary
vocation which they had in the church, as it then was, to wit that of Rome, &c.
§IX. Many absurdities do Protestants fall into by
deriving their ministry thus through the church of Rome. As first they must acknowledge her to
be a true church of Christ, though only erroneous in some things, which contradicts their
forefathers so frequently, and yet truly, calling her Antichrist. Secondly, they must needs
acknowledge that the priests and bishops of the Romish church are true ministers and pastors of
the church of Christ, to the essential part, else they could not have been fit subjects for that power
and authority to have resided in, neither could they have been vessels capable to receive that
power and again transmit it to their successors. Thirdly, it would follow from this that the priests
& bishops of the Romish church are yet really true pastors and
teachers; for if Protestant ministers have no authority but what they received from them, &
since the church of Rome is the same she was at that time of the reformation, in doctrine and
manners, and she has the same power now she had then, and if the power lie in the succession,
then these priests of the Romish churchnow, which derive their ordination from those bishops that
ordained the first reformers, have the same authority which the successors of the reformed have,
and consequently are no less ministers of the church than they are. But how will this agree with
that opinion which the primitive Protestants had of the Romish priests and clergy, to whom
Luther did not only deny any power or authority but contrariwise affirmed that it was wickedly
done of them to assume to themselves only this authority to teach and be priests and ministers,
&c. For he himself affirmed that "every good Christian (not only men, but even
women also) is a preacher."
§X. But against this vain succession, as asserted either
by the Papists or Protestants as a necessary thing to the call of a minister, I answer that such as
plead for it as a sufficient or necessary thing to the call of a minister do thereby sufficiently declare
their ignorance of the nature of Christianity and how much they are strangers to the life and
power of a Christian ministry, which is not entailed to succession, as an outward inheritance; and
herein, as hath been often before observed, to not only make the Gospel not better than the Law,
but even far short of it: for Jesus Christ, as he regardeth not any distinct particular family or
nation in the gathering of his children, but only such as are joined to and leavened with his own
pure and righteous Seed, so neither regards he a bare outward succession, where his pure,
immaculate, and righteous Life is wanting; for that were all one. He took not in the nations within
the New Covenant that he might suffer them to fall into the old errors of the Jews, or to approve
them in their errors; but that he might gather unto himself a pure people out of the earth. Now
this was the great error of the Jews, to think they were the church and people of God because
they could derive their outward succession from Abraham, whereby they reckoned themselves the
children of God, as being the offspring of Abraham, who was the father of the faithful. But how
severely doth the Scripture rebuke this vain and frivolous pretence? Telling them, "that God is able of the stones to raise children unto Abraham,"
and that not the outward seed, but those that were found in the faith of Abraham, are the true
children of faithful Abraham. Far less then can this pretence hold among Christians, seeing Christ
rejects all outward affinity of that kind: "These," saith he, "are my mother,
brethren and sisters, who do the will of my Father which is in heaven."g And again: "He looked
round about him and said, 'who shall do the the will of God, these,' said he, 'are my brethren.'"h So then such as do not the
commands of Christ, as are not found clothed with his righteousness, are not his disciples; and
that which a man hath not, he cannot give to another; and it is clear that no man nor church,
though truly called of God, and as such having the authority of a Church and minister, can any
longer retain that authority than they retain the power, life, and righteousness of Christianity; for
the form is entailed to the power and substance, and not the substance to the form. So that when
a man ceaseth inwardly in his heart to be a Christian (where his Christianity must lie) by turning to
Satan and becoming a reprobate, he is no more a Christian, though he retain the name and form,
than a dead man is a man, though he hath the image and representation of one, or than the picture
or statue of a man is a man; and though a dead man may serve to a painter to retain some
imperfect representation of the man that sometimes was alive, and so one picture may serve to
make another by, yet none of those can serve to make a true living man again, neither can they
convey the life and spirit of the man: it must be God, that made the man at first, that alone can
revive him. As death then makes such interruption of an outward natural succession, that no art
nor outward form can uphold, and as a dead man, after he is dead, can have no issue, neither can
dead images of men make living men, so that it is the living that are only capable to succeed one
another; and such as die, so soon as they die cease to succeed, or to transmit succession. So it is
in spiritual things: it is the life of Christianity taking place in the heart that makes a Christian, and
so it is a number of such, being alive, joined together in the life of
Christianity, that make a Church of Christ, and it is all those that are thus alive and quickened,
considered together, that make the catholic Church of Christ; therefore when this life ceaseth in
one, then that one ceaseth to be a Christian, and all power, virtue and authority which he had as a
Christian ceaseth with it; so that if he hath been a minister or teacher, he ceaseth to be so any
more; and though he retain the form, and hold to the authority in words, yet that signifies no
more, nor is it of any more real virtue and authority, than the mere image of a dead man; and as
this is most agreeable to reason, so it is the Scripture's testimony, for it is said of Judas (Acts
1:25) that Judas fell from his ministry and apostleship by transgression. So his transgression
caused him to cease to be an apostle any more; whereas had the apostleship been entailed to his
person, so that transgression could not cause him to lose it until he had been formally degraded by
the church (which Judas never was so long as he lived), Judas had been as really an apostle after
he betrayed Christ as before: and as it is of one, so of many, yea of a whole Church: for seeing
nothing makes a man truly a Christian but the life of Christianity inwardly ruling in his heart, so
nothing makes a church but the gathering of several true Christians into one body. Now where all
these members lose this life, there the church ceaseth to be, though they still uphold the form and
retain the name: for when that which made them a church, and for which they were a church,
ceaseth, then they cease also to be a church: and therefore the Spirit, speaking to the church of
Laodicea, because of her lukewarmness (Rev. 3:16), threateneth to "spew her out of his
mouth." Now suppose the church of Laodicea had continued in that lukewarmness and had
come under that condemnation and judgment, though she had retained the name and form of a
church, and had her pastors and ministers, as no doubt she had at that time, yet surely she had
been no true church of Christ, nor had the authority of her pastors and teachers been to be
regarded because of any outward succession, though perhaps some of them had it immediately
from the apostles. From all which I infer that since the authority of the Christian Church and her
pastors is always united and never separated from the inward power, virtue and righteous life of
Christianity; where this ceaseth, that ceaseth also. But our adversaries
acknowledge that many, if not most of those by and through whom they derive this authority,
were altogether destitute of this life and virtue of Christianity. Therefore they could neither
receive, have, nor transmit any Christian authority.
Obj. But if it be objected that though the generality of the bishops and priests of
the church of Rome during the apostasy were such wicked men, yet Protestants affirm, and thou
thyself seemest to acknowledge, that there were some good men among them, whom the Lord
regarded, and who were true members of the catholic Church of Christ; might not they then have
transmitted this authority?
Answ. I answer, this saith nothing, in respect Protestants do not at all lay claim to
their ministry as transmitted to them by a direct line of good men, which they can never show nor
yet pretend to, but generally place this succession as inherent in the whole pastors of the apostate
church, neither do they plead their call to be good and valid because they can derive it through a
line of good men, separate and observably distinguishable from the rest of the bishops and clergy
of the Romish church; but they derive it as an authority residing in the whole; for they think it
heresy to judge that the quality or condition of the administrator doth any ways invalidate or
prejudice his work.
This vain then and pretended succession not only militates against and fights with the very
manifest purpose and intent of Christ in the gathering and calling of his Church, but makes him
(so to speak) more blind and less prudent than natural men are in conveying and establishing their
outward inheritances: for where an estate is entailed to a certain name and family, when that
family weareth out and there is no lawful successor found of it that can make a just title appear, as
being really of blood and affinity to the family, it is not lawful for anyone of another race or blood,
because he assumes the name or arms of that family, to possess the estate and claim the
superiorities and privileges of the family, but by the law of nations the inheritance devolves into
the prince as being ultimus hÆres, and so he giveth it again immediately to whom he
sees meet and makes them bear the name and arms of the family who then are entitled to the
privileges and revenues thereof. So in like manner, the true name and title
of a Christian, by which he hath right to the heavenly inheritance and is a member of Jesus Christ,
is inward righteousness and holiness, and the mind redeemed from the vanities, lusts, and
iniquities of this world. And a gathering or company made up of such members make a church;
where this is lost the title is lost, and so the true seed to which the promise is, and to which the
inheritance is due, becomes extinguished in them, and they become dead as to it; and so it retires
and devolves itself again unto Christ, who is the righteous heir of life; and he gives the title and
true right again immediately to whom it pleaseth him, even to as many as being turned to his pure
Light in their consciences come again to walk in his righteous and innocent life and so become
true members of his body, which is the church. So the authority, power and heirship are not
annexed to persons as they bear the bare names or retain a form, holding the mere shell or shadow
of Christianity; but the promise is to Christ and to the Seed, in whom the authority is inherent, and
in as many as are one with him and united unto him by purity and holiness and by the inward
renovation and regeneration of their minds.
Moreover, this pretended succession is contrary to Scripture definitions and nature of the
Church of Christ and of the true members. For, first, "The church is the house of God, the
pillar and ground of Truth" (1 Tim. 3:15). But according to this doctrine the house of God
is a polluted nest of all sort of wickedness and abominations, made up of the most ugly, defiled
and perverse stones that are in the earth, where the devil rules in all manner of unrighteousness.
For so our adversaries confess, and history informs the church of Rome to have been, as some of
their historians acknowledge; and if that be truly the house of God what may we call the house of
Satan? Or may we call it therefore the house of God, notwithstanding all this impiety, because
they had a bare form, and that vitiated many ways also, and because they pretended to the name
of Christianity, though they were antichristian, devilish, and atheistical in their whole practice and
spirit, and also in many of their principles? Would not this infer yet a greater absurdity, as if they
had been something to be accounted of because of their hypocrisy and deceit and false pretences?
Whereas the Scripture looks upon that as an aggravation of guilt and calls it
blasphemy (Rev. 2:9). Of two wicked men, he is most to be abhorred who covereth his
wickedness with a vain pretence of God and righteousness; even so these abominable beasts and
fearful monsters who look upon themselves to be bishops in the apostate church were never a
whit the better that they falsely pretended to be the successors of the holy apostles; unless to lie
be commendable and that hypocrisy be the way to heaven. Yea, were not this to fall into that evil
condemned among the Jews? (Jer. 7:4): "Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The Temple of
the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord are these; thoroughly amend your
ways," &c., as if such outward names and things were the thing the Lord regarded and
not inward holiness? Or can that then be the pillar and ground of Truth which is the very sink and
pit of wickedness, from which so much error, superstition, idolatry and all abomination spring?
Can there be anything more contrary both to Scripture and reason?
Secondly, the Church is defined to be "the kingdom of the dear Son of God, into
which the saints are translated," being "delivered from the power of darkness."
It is called "the body of Christ," which from him "by joints and bands having
nourishment ministered and knit together increaseth with the increase of God" (Col. 2:19).
But can such members, such a gathering as we have demonstrated that church and members to be,
among whom they allege their pretended authority to have been preserved, and through which
they derive their call, can such, I say, be the body of Christ, or the members thereof? Or is Christ
the head of such a corrupt, dead, dark, abominable, stinking carcass? If so, then might we not as
well affirm against the apostle (2 Cor. 6:14): "That righteousness hath fellowship with
unrighteousness, that light hath communion with darkness, that Christ hath concord with Belial,
that a believer hath part with an infidel, and that the temple of God hath agreement with
idols"? Moreover no man is called the temple of God, nor of the Holy Ghost, but as his
vessel is purified and so he fitted and prepared for God to dwell in; and many thus fitted by Christ
become his body, in and among whom he dwells and walks, according as it is written, "I
will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." It is therefore that we may become the temple of Christ
and people of God that the apostle in the following verse exhorts, saying out of the prophet,
"Wherefore come out from out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you; and I will be a father unto you and ye shall be
my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty".i But to what purpose is all this exhortation, and why should we separate
from the unclean, if a mere outward profession and name be enough to make the true church; and
if the unclean and polluted were both the church and lawful successors of the apostles, inheriting
their authority and transmitting it to others? Yea, how can the church be the kingdom of the Son
of God as contradistinguished from the kingdom and power of darkness? And what need, yea
what possibility of being translated out of the one into the other, if those that make up the
kingdom and power of darkness be real members of the true church of Christ, and not simple
members only, but the very pastors and teachers of it? But how do they "increase in the
increase of God, and receive spiritual nourishment from Christ the head," that are enemies
of him in their hearts, by wicked works, and openly go into perdition? Verily as no metaphysical
and nice distinctions (that though they were practically, as to their own private estates, enemies to
God and Christ, and so servants of Satan, yet they were by virtue of their office members and
ministers of the Church, and so able to transmit the succession), I say as such invented and
frivolous distinctions will not please the Lord God, neither will he be deluded by such, nor make
up the glorious body of his Church with such mere outside hypocritical shows, nor be beholden to
such painted sepulchres for to be members of his body, which is sound, pure and undefiled; and
therefore he needs not such false and corrupt members to make up the defects of it; so neither will
such distinctions satisfy truly tender and Christian consciences, especially considering the apostle
is so far from desiring us to regard this as that we are expressly commanded to turn away from
such as "have a form of godliness but deny the power of it." For we may well object against these, as the poor man did against the proud
prelate, that went about to cover his vain and unchristian-like sumptuousness by distinguishing
that it was not as bishop, but as prince he had all that splendor. To which the poor rustic wisely is
said to have answered, "When the prince goeth to hell, what shall become of the
prelate?" And indeed this were to suppose the body of Christ to be defective, and that to
fill up these defective places he puts counterfeit and dead stuff, instead of real living members; like
such as lose their eyes, arms, or legs make counterfeit ones of timber or glass, instead of them.
But we cannot think so of Christ, neither can we believe, for the reasons above adduced, that
either we are to account, or that Christ doth account, any man or men a whit the more members
of his body, because though they be really wicked, they hypocritically and deceitfully clothe
themselves with his name pretended to it; for this is contrary to his own doctrine, where he saith
expressly (John 15:1-6, &c.) that "he is the vine and his disciples are the
branches," that "except they abide in him they cannot bear fruit, and if they be
unfruitful they shall be cast forth as a branch and wither." Now I suppose these cut and
withered branches are no more true branches nor members of the vine, they can draw no more sap
nor nourishment from it after that they are cut off, and so have no more virtue, sap, nor life.
What have they then to boast or glory of any authority, seeing they want that life, virtue and
nourishment, from which all authority comes? So such members of Christ as are become dead to
him through unrighteousness, and so derive no more virtue nor life from him, are cut off by their
sins and wither, and have no longer any true or real authority, and their boasting of any is but an
aggravation of their iniquity by hypocrisy and deceit. But further, would not this make Christ's
body a mere shadow and phantasm? Yea would it not make him head of a lifeless, rotten, stinking
carcass, having only some little outward false show, while inwardly full of rottenness and dirt?
And what a monster would these men make of Christ's body, by assigning it a real, pure, living,
quick Head, full of virtue and life, and yet tied to such a dead, lifeless body as we have already
described these members to be, which they allege to have been the church of Christ? Again, the
members of the church of Christ are specified by this definition, to wit, as
being "the sanctified in Christ Jesus" (1 Cor. 1:2). But this notion of succession
supposeth not only some unsanctified members to be of the church of Christ, but even the whole
to consist of unsanctified members; yea that such as were professed necromancers and open
servants of Satan were the true successors of the apostles, and in whom the apostolic authority
resided, these being the vessels through whom this succession is transmitted; though many of
them, as all Protestants and also some Papists confess, attained these offices in the (so called)
church not only by such means as Simon Magus sought it, but by much worse, even by witchcraft,
murder, traditions, money, and treachery, which Platina himself confessethj of divers bishops of Rome.
§XI. But such as object not this succession of the
church (which yet most Protestants begin now to do) distinguish in this matter, affirming that in a
great apostasy such as was that of the church of Rome, God may raise up some singularly, by his
Spirit, who from the testimony of the Scriptures perceiving the errors into which such as bear the
name of Christians are fallen, may instruct and teach them and then become authorized by the
people's joining with, and accepting of their ministry only. Most of them also will affirm that the
Spirit herein is subjective, and not objective.
Obj. But they say that where a church is reformed, such as they pretend the
Protestant churches are, there an ordinary orderly call is necessary; and that of the Spirit, as
extraordinary, is not to be sought after: alleging that res aliter se habet in ecclesia
constituenda, quam in ecclesia constituta, that is, there is a difference in the constituting of a
church, and after it is constitute.
Answ. I answer, this objection as to us saith nothing, seeing we accuse, and are
ready from the Scriptures to prove the Protestants guilty of gross errors, and needing reformation,
as well as they did and do the Papists; and therefore we may justly lay claim,
if we would, to the same extraordinary call, having the same reason for it, and as good evidence
to prove ours as they had for theirs. As for that maxim, viz: that the case is different in a
constituting church, and a church constituted, I do not deny it; and therefore there may be a
greater measure of power required to the one than to the other, and God in his wisdom distributes
the same as he sees meet, but that the same immediate assistance of the Spirit is not necessary for
ministers in a gathered church as well as in gathering one I see no solid reason alleged for it. For
sure Christ's promise was to be "with his children to the end of the world"; and they
need him no less to preserve and guide his Church and children, than to gather and beget them.
Nature taught the Gentiles this maxim:
Non minor est virtus, quam quaerere, parta tueri. Englished
thus,
For to defend what you attain
Requires no less strength than to gain.
For it is by this inward and immediate operation of the Spirit (which Christ hath promised to
"lead his children with into all Truth," and to "teach them all things") that
Christians are to be led in all steps (as well last as first) which relate to God's glory and their own
salvation, as we have heretofore sufficiently proven and therefore need not now repeat it. And
truly this device of Satan, whereby he has got people to put the immediate guidings and leadings
of God's Spirit as an extraordinary thing, afar off, which the forefathers had but which they now
are neither to wait for nor expect, is a great cause of the growing apostasy upon the many
gathered churches, and is one great reason why a dry, dead, barren, lifeless, spiritless ministry,
which leavens the people into the same death, doth so much abound, and is so much
overspreading even the Protestant nations that their preachings and worships, as well as whole
conversation, is not to be discerned from Popish by any fresh living zeal or lively power of the
Spirit accompanying it, but merely by the difference of some notions and opinions.
§XII. Obj. Some unwise and unwary
Protestants do sometimes object to us, that if we have such an immediate call as we lay claim to
we ought to confirm it by miracles.
Answ. But this being an objection once and again objected to the primitive Protestants by the Papists, we need but short return the answer to
it that they did to the Papists, to wit, that we need not miracles because we preach no new gospel,
but that which is already confirmed by all the miracles of Christ and his apostles, and that we offer
nothing but that which we are ready and able to confirm by the testimony of the Scriptures, which
both already acknowledge to be true. And that John the Baptist and divers of the prophets did
none that we hear of, and yet were both immediately and extraordinarily sent. This is the common
Protestant answer, therefore may suffice in this place, though if need were I could say more to
this purpose, but that I study brevity.
§XIII. There is also another sort of Protestants, to wit
the English Independents, who, differing from the Calvinistical Presbyterians and denying the
necessity of this succession or the authority of any national church, take another way; affirming
that such as have the benefit of the Scriptures, any company of people agreeing in the principles of
Truth as they find them there declared, may constitute among themselves a church, without the
authority of any other, and may choose to themselves a pastor, who by the church thus constitute
and consenting, is authorized, requiring only the assistance and concurrence of the pastors of the
neighbouring churches (if any be); not so much as absolutely necessary to authorize, as decent for
order's sake. Also they go so far as to affirm that in a church so constitute, any gifted brother, as
they call them, if he find himself qualified thereto, may instruct, exhort, and preach in the church;
though as not having the pastoral office he can not administer that they call their sacraments.
To this I answer that this was a good step out of the Babylonish darkness, and no doubt
did proceed from a real discovery of the Truth, and from the sense of a great abuse of the
promiscuous national gatherings. Also this preaching of the gifted brethren (as they called them)
did proceed at first from certain lively touches and movings of the Spirit of God upon many. But
alas! because they went not forward, that is much decayed among them, and the motions of God's
Spirit begin to be denied and rejected among them now, as much as by others.
But as to their pretended call from the Scripture, I answer: the Scripture gives a mere
declaration of true things, but no call to particular persons, so that though I
believe the things there written to be true, and deny the errors which I find there testified against,
yet as to these things which may be my particular duty, I am still to seek, and therefore I can
never be resolved in the Scripture whether I, such a one by name, ought to be a minister. And for
the resolving this doubt, I must needs recur to the inward and immediate testimony of the Spirit,
as in the proposition concerning the Scriptures more at large is shown.
§XIV. From all this then we do firmly conclude, that
not only in a general apostasy it is needful men be extraordinarily called and raised up by the Spirit
of God, but that even when several assemblies or churches are gathered by the power of God, not
only into the belief of the principles of Truth, so as to deny errors and heresies, but also into the
life, spirit, and power of Christianity, so as to be the body and house of Christ indeed, and a fit
spouse for him, that he who gathers them doth also, for the preserving them in a lively, fresh, and
powerful condition, raise up and move among them, by the inward immediate operation of his
own Spirit, ministers and teachers to instruct and teach and watch over them, who being thus
called are manifest in the hearts of their brethren, and their call is thus verified in them who, by the
feeling of that life and power that passeth through them, being inwardly builded up by them daily
in the most holy faith, become the seals of their apostleship; and this is answerable to another
saying of the same apostle Paul (2 Cor. 13:3): "Since ye seek a proof of Christ's speaking in
me, which to you-wards is not weak, but is mighty in you." So this is that which gives a
true substantial call and title to a minister whereby he is a real successor of the virtue, life and
power that was in the apostles, and not of the bare name; and to such ministers we think the
outward ceremony of ordination or laying on of hands not necessary, neither can we see the use
of it, seeing our adversaries who use it acknowledge that the virtue and power of communicating
the Holy Ghost by it is ceased among them. And is it not then foolish and ridiculous for them, by
an apish imitation, to keep up the shadow where the substance is wanting? And may not they by
the same rule, where they see blind and lame men, in imitation of Christ and his apostles, bid them
see and walk? Yea, is it not in them a mocking of God and men to put on
their hands and bid men receive the Holy Ghost while they believe the thing impossible, and
confess that that ceremony has no real effect? Having thus far spoken of the call, I shall proceed
next to treat of the qualifications and work of a true minister.
§XV. As I have placed the true call of a minister in the
motion of the Holy Spirit, so is the power, life, and virtue thereof, and the pure Grace of God that
comes therefrom, the chief and most necessary qualification without which he can no ways
perform his duty, neither acceptably to God nor beneficially to men. Our adversaries in this case
affirm that three things go to the making up of a minister, viz: 1) natural parts, that he be not a
fool; 2) acquired parts, that he be learned in the languages, philosophy and school divinity; 3) the
Grace of God.
The two first they reckon necessary to the being of a minister, so as a man cannot be one
without them; the third they say goeth to the well-being of one, but not to the being; so that a man
may truly be a lawful minister without it, and ought to be heard and received as such. But we
(supposing a natural capacity, that one be not an idiot) judge the grace of God indispensably
necessary to the very being of a minister, as that without which any can neither be a true, nor
lawful, nor good minister. As for letter-learning, we judge it not so much necessary to the well-
being of one, though accidentally sometimes in certain respects it may concur, but more
frequently it is hurtful than helpful, as appeared in the example of Taulerus, who, being a learned
man, and who could make an eloquent preaching, needed nevertheless to be instructed in the way
of the Lord by a poor laic. I shall first speak of the necessity of grace and then proceed to say
something of that literature which they judge so needful.
First then, as we said in the call, so may we much more here. If the Grace of God be a
necessary qualification to make one a true Christian, it must be a qualification much more
necessary to constitute a true minister of Christianity. That Grace is necessary to make up a true
Christian I think will not be questioned, since it is "by Grace we are saved" (Eph 2:8),
it is the "Grace of God that teacheth us to deny ungodliness and the lusts of this world, and
to live godly and righteously" (Tit. 2:11), yea, Christ saith expressly,
that without him we can do nothing (John 15:5); and the way whereby Christ helpeth, assisteth,
and worketh with us is by his grace: hence he saith to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for
thee." A Christian without grace is indeed no Christian, but an hypocrite and a false
pretender. Then I say, If grace be necessary to a private Christian, far more to a teacher among
Christians, who must be as a father and instructor of others, seeing this dignity is bestowed upon
such as have attained a greater measure than their brethren. Even nature itself may teach us that
there is more required in a teacher than in those that are taught, and that the master must be above
and before the scholar in that art or science which he teacheth others. Since then Christianity
cannot be truly enjoyed, neither any man denominated a Christian without the true grace of God,
therefore neither can any man be a true and lawful teacher of Christianity without it.
Arg. Secondly, No man can be a minister of the Church of Christ, which is his
body, unless he be a member of the body, and receive of the virtue and life of the
Head.
But he that hath not true Grace can neither be a member of the body, neither receive of
that life and nourishment which comes from the Head:
Therefore far less can he be a minister to edify the body.
That he cannot be a minister who is not a member is evident, because who is not a
member is shut out and cut off, and hath no place in the body, whereas the ministers are counted
among the most eminent members of the body; but no man can be a member unless he receive of
the virtue, life, and nourishment of the Head; for the members that receive not this life and
nourishment, decay and wither, and then are cut off. And that every true member doth thus
receive nourishment and life from the Head, the apostle expressly affirmeth (Eph. 4:16):
"From whom the whole body being fitly joined together, and compacted by that which
every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh
increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." Now this that thus is
communicated, and which thus uniteth the whole, is no other than the Grace of God, and
therefore the apostle in the same chapter (v. 7), saith, "But unto every one of us is given
Grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ," and (v. 11) he
showeth how that "by this Grace and Gift both apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and
teachers are given for the work of the ministry and edifying of the body of Christ." And
certainly then no man destitute of this Grace is fit for this work, seeing that all that Christ gives
are so qualified; and these that are not so qualified are not given nor sent of Christ, are not to be
heard, nor received, nor acknowledged as ministers of the Gospel, because his sheep neither
ought nor will hear the voice of a stranger. This is also clear from 1 Cor. 12 throughout; for the
apostle in that chapter, treating of the diversity of gifts and members of the body, showeth how by
the working of the same Spirit in different manifestations or measures in the several members the
whole body is edified, saying (v. 13), that "we are all baptized by the one Spirit into one
body"; and then (v. 28) he numbers out the several dispensations thereof, which by God are
set in the Church through the various working of his Spirit, for the edification of the whole. Then
if there be no true member of the body which is not thus baptized by this Spirit, neither anything
that worketh to the edifying of it, but according to a measure of grace received from the Spirit,
surely without grace none ought to be admitted to work or labour in the body, because their
labour and work, without this Grace and Spirit, would be but ineffectual.
§XVI. Thirdly, that this Grace and Gift is a necessary
qualification to a minister is clear from that of the apostle Peter (1 Pet. 4:10-11), "As every
man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the
manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God: if any man
minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth; that God in all things may be glorified
through Jesus Christ; to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever, Amen." From
which it appears that these that minister must minister according to the Gift and Grace received;
but they that have not such a gift cannot minister according thereunto. Secondly, "As good
stewards of the manifold Grace of God": but how can a man be a good steward of that
which he hath not? Can ungodly men, that are not gracious themselves, be good stewards of the
manifold Grace of God? and therefore in the following verses he makes an exclusive limitation of
such that are not thus furnished, saying, "If any man speak, let him
speak as the oracles of God; and if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability that God
giveth," which is as much as if he had said, They that cannot thus speak and thus minister
ought not to do it: for this "if" denotes a necessary condition. Now what this ability
is, is manifest by the former words, to wit, the Gift received, and the Grace whereof they are
stewards, as by the immediate context and dependency of the words doth appear: neither can it be
understood of a mere natural ability, because man in this condition is said "not to know the
things of God," and so he cannot minister them to others. And the following words show
this also, in that he immediately subjoineth, "that God in all things may be glorified";
but surely God is not glorified but greatly dishonored when natural men from their mere natural
ability meddle in spiritual things which they neither know nor understand.
Fourthly, that Grace is a most necessary qualification for a minister, appears by these
qualifications, which the apostle expressly requires (1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1, &c.), where he saith,
"A bishop must be blameless, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, apt to teach, patient, a
lover of good men, just, holy, temperate, as the steward of God holding fast the faithful Word as
he hath been taught." Upon the other hand, "He must neither be given to wine, nor a
striker, nor covetous, nor proud, nor self-willed, nor soon angry." Now I ask if it be not
impossible that a man can have all these above named virtues, and be free of all these evils,
without the grace of God? If then these virtues (for the producing of which in a man Grace is
absolutely necessary) be necessary to make a true minister of the Church of Christ according to
the apostle's judgment, surely Grace must he necessary also.
Concerning this thing a learned man, and well skilled in antiquity, about the time of the
reformation, writeth thus: "Whatsoever is done in the church, either for ornament or
edification of religion, whether in choosing magistrates or instituting ministers of the church,
except it be done by the ministry of God's Spirit, which is as it were the soul of the church, it is
vain and wicked. For whoever hath not been called by the Spirit of God to the great office of
God and dignity of apostleship, as Aaron was, and hath not entered in by the door which is Christ,
but hath otherways risen in the church by the window, by the favours of
men, &c., truly such a one is not the vicar of Christ and the apostles, but a thief and robber,
and the vicar of Judas Iscariot and Simon the Samaritan. Hence it was so strictly appointed
concerning the election of prelates (which holy Dionysius calls the sacrament of nomination) that
the bishops and apostles who should oversee the service of the church should be men of most
entire manners and life, powerful in sound doctrine, to give a reason for all things." So also
anotherk about the same time writeth thus:
"Therefore it can never be that by the tongues or learning any can give a sound judgment
concerning the Holy Scriptures and the truth of God. Lastly," saith he, "the sheep of
Christ seeketh nothing but the voice of Christ, which he knoweth by the Holy Spirit, wherewith he
is filled: he regards not learning, tongues, or any outward thing, so as therefore to believe this or
that to be the voice of Christ his true shepherd; he knoweth that there is need of no other thing
but the testimony of the Spirit of God."
§XVII. Obj. Against this absolute necessity of
Grace they object that if all ministers had the saving Grace of God, then all ministers should be
saved, seeing none can fall away from or lose saving Grace.
Answ. But this objection is built upon a false hypothesis, purely denied by us, and
we have in the former proposition concerning perseverance already refuted it.
Obj. Secondly, it may be objected to us that since we affirm that every man hath a
measure of true and saving Grace, there needs no singular qualification neither to a Christian nor
minister; for seeing every man hath this Grace, then no man needs forbear to be a minister for
want of Grace.
Answ. I answer, we have above shown that there is necessary to the making a
minister, a special and particular call from the Spirit of God, which is something besides the
universal dispensation of grace to all, according to that of the apostle, "No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron."l Moreover, we understand by
Grace, as a qualification to a minister, not the mere measure of Light, as it is given to reprove and
call him to righteousness; but we understand Grace as it hath converted the soul, and operateth
powerfully in it, as hereafter, concerning the work of ministers, will further appear. So we
understand not men simply, as having Grace in them as a seed (which we indeed affirm all have in
a measure) but we understand men that are gracious, leavened by it into the nature thereof, so as
thereby to bring forth those good fruits of a blameless conversation, and of justice, holiness,
patience and temperance, which the apostle requires as necessary in a true Christian bishop and
minister.
Thirdly, they object the example of the false prophets, of the Pharisees, and of Judas.m
But first, As to the false prophets, there can nothing be more foolish and ridiculous; as if,
because there were false prophets, truly false, without the Grace of God, therefore Grace is not
necessary to a true Christian minister. Indeed, if they had proven that true prophets wanted this
Grace, they had said something. But what have false prophets common with true ministers? but
that they pretend falsely that which they have not. And because false prophets want true Grace,
will it therefore follow that true prophets ought not to have it, or need it not? yea doth it not
much rather follow that they ought to have it,2 that they may be true and not false? The example of the Pharisees and
priests under the Law will not answer to the Gospel times, because God set apart a particular tribe
for that service, and particular families, to whom it belonged by a lineal succession; and also their
service and work was not purely spiritual, but only the performance of some outward and carnal
observations and ceremonies, which were but a shadow of the Substance that was to come, and
therefore their work "made not the comers thereunto perfect as
appertaining to the conscience," seeing they were appointed only according to the law of a
carnal commandment, and not according to the power of an endless life. Notwithstanding as in
the figure they behoved to be "without blemish" as to their outward man, and in the
performance of their work they behoved to be washed and purified from their outward pollutions;
so now, under the Gospel times, the ministers in the antitype must be inwardly "without
blemish" in their souls and spirits, being, as the apostle requires, blameless, and in their
work and service must be pure and undefiled from their inward pollutions; and so clean and holy,
that they may "offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Pet.
2:5). As to Judas, the season of his ministry was not wholly evangelical, as being before the work
was finished, and while Christ himself and his disciples were yet subject to the Jewish observances
and constitutions, and therefore his commission, as well as that which the rest received with him
at that time, was "only to the house of Israel" (Matt. 10:5-6); which made that by
virtue of that commission the rest of the apostles were not empowered to go forth and preach
after the resurrection until they had waited at Jerusalem for the pouring forth of the Spirit. So
that it appears Judas's ministry was more legal than evangelical. Secondly, Judas's case, as all will
acknowledge, was singular and extraordinary, he being immediately called by Christ himself, and
accordingly furnished and empowered by him to preach and do miracles; which immediate
commission our adversaries do not so much as pretend to, and so fall short of Judas, who trusted
in Christ's words, and therefore went forth and preached, "without gold or silver or scrip for
his journey; giving freely as he had freely received"; which our adversaries will not do, as
hereafter shall be observed; also that Judas at that time had not the least measure of God's Grace,
I have not as yet heard proved. But is it not sad that even Protestants should lay aside the eleven
good and faithful apostles, and all the rest of the holy disciples and ministers of Christ, and betake
them to that one of whom it was testified that he was a devil, for a pattern and example to their
ministry? Alas! it is to be regretted that too many of them resemble this pattern overmuch.
Obj. Another objection is usually made against the necessity
of Grace,n that in case it were necessary
then such as wanted it could not truly administer the sacraments; and consequently the people
would be left in doubts and infinite scruples, as not knowing certainly whether they had truly
received them because not knowing infallibly whether the administrators were truly gracious
men.
Answ. But this objection hitteth not us at all, because the nature of that spiritual
and Christian worship which we, according to the Truth, plead for, is such as is not necessarily
attended with these carnal and outward institutions from the administering of which the objection
ariseth, and so hath not any such absurdity following upon it, as will afterwards more clearly
appear.
§XVIII. Though then we make not human learning
necessary, yet we are far from excluding true learning, to wit, that learning which proceedeth
from the inward teachings and instructions of the Spirit, whereby the soul learneth the secret ways
of the Lord, becomes acquainted with many inward travels and exercises of the mind, and learneth
by a living experience how to overcome evil and the temptations of it by following the Lord and
walking in his light, and waiting daily for wisdom and knowledge immediately from the revelation
thereof, and so layeth up these heavenly and divine lessons in the good treasure of the heart as
honest Mary did the sayings which she heard and things which she observed; and also out of this
treasure of the soul, as the good scribe, brings forth things new and old, according as the same
Spirit moves and gives a true liberty, and as need is for the Lord's glory, whose the soul is, and for
whom, and with an eye to whose glory, she3
which is the temple of God learneth to do all things. This is that good learning which we think
necessary to a true minister; by and through which learning a man can well instruct, teach, and
admonish in due season, and testify for God from a certain experience, as did David, Solomon, and the holy prophets of old, and the blessed apostles of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who "testified of what they had seen, heard, felt, and handled of the
Word of Life" (1 John 1:1), ministering the gift according as they had received the same, as
good stewards of the manifold grace of God, and preached not the uncertain rumors of others4 by hearsay which they had gathered
merely in the comprehension, while they were strangers to the thing in their own experience in
themselves: as to teach people how to believe while themselves were unbelieving, or how to
overcome sin while themselves are slaves to it, as all ungracious men are; or to believe and hope
for an eternal reward which themselves have not as yet arrived at, &c.
§XIX. But let us examine this literature which they
make so necessary to the being of a minister; as in the first place, the knowledge of the
tongues, at least of the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. The reason for this is that they may
read the Scriptures, which is their only rule, in the original languages, and thereby be the more
capable to comment upon it and interpret it, &c. That also which made this knowledge be
the more prized by the primitive Protestants was indeed the dark barbarity that was over the
world in the centuries immediately preceding the reformation; the knowledge of the tongues being
about that time, until it was even then restored by Erasmus and some others, almost lost and
extinct. And this barbarity was so much the more abominable, that the whole worship and prayers
of the people were in the Latin tongue; and among that vast number of priests, monks and friars,
scarce one of a thousand understood his breviary or that mass which he daily read and repeated.
The Scriptures being, not only to the people but to the greater part of the clergy, even as to the
literal knowledge of it, as a sealed book. I shall not at all discommend the zeal that the first
reformers had against this Babylonish darkness, nor their pious endeavours to translate the holy
Scriptures; but I do truly believe, according to their knowledge, that they did it candidly: and
therefore to answer the just desires of those that desire to read them, and for other very good
reasons, as maintaining a commerce and understanding among divers
nations by these common languages and other of that kind, we judge it necessary and
commendable that there be public schools for the teaching and instructing youth as are inclinable
thereunto in the languages. And although that papal ignorance deserved justly to be abhorred and
abominated, we see nevertheless that the true reformation consists not in that knowledge, because
although, since that time, the Papists, stirred up through emulation of the Protestants, have more
applied themselves to literature, and it now more flourisheth in their universities and cloisters than
before, especially in the Ignatian or Jesuitic sect, they are as far now as ever from a true
reformation, and more obdured in their pernicious doctrines. But all this will not make this a
necessary qualification to a minister, far less a more necessary qualification than the Grace of God
and his Spirit, because the Spirit and Grace of God can make up this want in the most rustic and
ignorant. But this knowledge can no ways make up the want of the Spirit in the most learned and
eloquent. For all that which man by his own industry, learning, and knowledge in the languages,
can interpret of the Scriptures, or find out, is nothing without the Spirit; he cannot be certain of it
and may still miss of the sense of it: but a poor man, that knoweth not a letter, when he heareth
the Scriptures read, by the same Spirit, he can say, this is true; and by the same Spirit he can
understand, open, and interpret it, if need be: yea he, finding his condition to answer the condition
and experience of the saints of old, knoweth and possesseth the truths there delivered, because
they are sealed and witnessed in his own heart by the same Spirit. And this we have plentiful
experience of, in many of those illiterate men whom God hath raised up to be ministers in his
Church in this day; so that some such by his Spirit have corrected some of the errors of the
translators, as in the third proposition concerning the Scriptures I before observed. Yea, I know
myself a poor shoemaker that cannot read a word, who being assaulted with a false citation of
Scripture, from a public professor of divinity, before the magistrate of a city, when he had been
taken for preaching to some few that came to hear him, I say, I know such a one, and he yet
liveth, who though the professor (who also is esteemed a learned man) constantly asserted his
saying to be a Scripture sentence, yet affirmed, not through any certain
letter-knowledge he had of it, but from the most certain evidence of the Spirit in himself, that the
professor lied;5 and that the Spirit of God
never said any such thing as the other affirmed: and the Bible being brought, it was found as the
poor shoemaker had said.
§XX. The second part of their literature is logic and
philosophy, an art so little needful to a true minister, that if one that comes to be a true minister
hath had it, it is safest for him to forget and lose it; for it is the root and ground of all contention
and debate, and the way to make a thing a great deal darker than clearer. For under the pretence
of regulating man's reason into a certain order and rules, that he may find out, as they pretend, the
Truth, it leads into such a labyrinth of contention as is far more fit to make a skeptic than a
Christian, far less a minister of Christ; yea it often hinders man from a clear understanding of
things that his own reason would give him; and therefore through its manifold rules and divers
inventions it often gives occasion for a man that hath little reason foolishly to speak much to no
purpose, seeing a man that is not very wise, may notwithstanding be a perfect logician, and then,
if ye would make a man a fool to purpose, that is not very wise, do but teach him logic and
philosophy, and whereas before he might have been fit for something, he shall then be good for
nothing but to speak nonsense, for these notions will so swim in his head that they will make him
extremely busy about nothing. The use that wise men and solid make of it, is to see the emptiness
thereof; therefore saith one "It is an art of contention and darkness, by which all other
sciences are rendered more obscure, and harder to be understood."
Inst. If it be urged that thereby the Truth may be maintained and confirmed and
heretics confuted;
Answ. I answer, the Truth, in men truly rational, needeth not the help thereof, and
such as are obstinate this will not convince; for by this they may learn twenty tricks and
distinctions, how to shut out the Truth; and the Truth proceeding from an honest heart and
spoken forth from the Virtue and Spirit of God will have more influence, and take sooner and
more effectually, than by a thousand demonstrations of logic; as that
heathen philosophero acknowledged who,
disputing with the Christian bishops in the Council of Nice, was so subtle that he could not be
overcome by them; but yet by a few words spoken by a simple old rustic was presently convinced
by him and converted to the Christian faith, and being inquired how he came to yield to that
ignorant old man and not to the bishops, he said that "they contended with him in his own
way, and he could still give words for words: but there came from the old man that virtue, which
he was not able to resist." This secret virtue and power ought to be the logic and
philosophy wherewith a true Christian minister should be furnished and for which they need not
be beholden to Aristotle. As to natural logic, by which rational men without that art and rules, or
sophistical learning, deduce a certain conclusion out of true propositions, which scarce any man of
reason wants, we deny not the use of it; and I have sometimes used it in this treatise; which also
may serve without that dialectical art. As for the other part of philosophy, which is called morals
or ethics, it is not so necessary to Christians, who have the rules of the holy Scriptures and the gift
of the Holy Spirit by which they can be much better instructed. The physical and metaphysical
part may be reduced to the arts of medicine and the mathematics, which have nothing to do with
the essence of a Christian minister. And therefore the apostle Paul, who well understood what
was good for Christian ministers and what was hurtful, thus exhorted the Colossians (Col. 2:8):
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit." And to his
beloved disciple Timothy he writes also thus (1 Tim. 6:20): "O Timothy, keep that which is
committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so
called."
§XXI. The third and main part of their literature is
school divinity, a monster made up betwixt some Scriptural notions of truth and the heathenish
terms and maxims, being, as it were, the heathenish philosophy Christianized, or rather the literal
external knowledge of Christ heathenized; it is man in his first, fallen, natural
state, with his devilish wisdom, pleasing himself with some notions of truth and adorning them
with his own serpentine and worldly wisdom, because he thinks the simplicity of the Truth too
low and mean a thing for him; and so despiseth that simplicity, wheresoever it is found, that he
may set up and exalt himself, puffed up with this, his monstrous birth; it is the devil darkening,
obscuring, and veiling the knowledge of God with his sensual and carnal wisdom, that so he may
the more securely deceive the hearts of the simple and make the Truth, as it is in itself, despicable
and hard to be known and understood, by multiplying a thousand hard and needless questions and
endless contentions and debates, all which, whoso perfectly knoweth, he is not a whit less the
servant of sin, than he was, but ten times more, in that he is exalted and proud of iniquity, and so
much the further from receiving, understanding, or learning the truth, as it is in its own naked
simplicity, because he is full, learned, rich, and wise in his own conceit; and so those that are most
skilled in it wear out their day and spend their precious time about the infinite and innumerable
questions they have feigned and invented concerning it. A certain learned man called it "A
twofold discipline, as of the race of the centaurs, partly proceeding from divine sayings, partly
from philosophical reasons." A thousand of their questions they confess themselves to be
no ways necessary to salvation, and yet many more of them they could never agree upon, but are
and still will be in endless janglings about them. The volumes that have been written about it, a
man in his whole age, though he lived very old, could scarce read, and when he has read them all,
he has but wrought himself a great deal more vexation and trouble of spirit than he had before.
These certainly are the "words multiplied without knowledge, by which counsel hath been
darkened" (Job 38:2). They make the Scripture the text of all this mass, and it is
concerning the sense of it that their voluminous debates arise. But a man of a good upright heart
may learn more in half an hour, and be more certain of it, by waiting upon God and his Spirit in
the heart than by reading a thousand of their volumes which, by filling his head with many
needless imaginations, may well stagger his faith but never confirm it; and indeed those that give
themselves most to it are most capable to fall into error, as appeareth by the
example of Origen, who by his learning was one of the first that falling into this way of
interpreting the Scriptures wrote so many volumes, and in them so many errors as very much
troubled the church. Also Arius, led by this curiosity and human scrutiny, despising the simplicity
of the Gospel, fell into his error, which was the cause of that horrible heresy which so much
troubled the church; methinks the simplicity, plainness, and brevity of the Scriptures themselves
should be a sufficient reproof for such a science; and the apostles being honest, plain, illiterate
men, may be better understood by such kind of men now than with all that mass of scholastic
stuff, which neither Peter, nor Paul, nor John, ever thought of.
§XXII. But this invention of Satan, wherewith he
began the apostasy, hath been of dangerous consequence, for thereby he at first spoiled the
simplicity of Truth by keeping up the heathenish learning which occasioned such uncertainty even
among those called Fathers, and such debate that there are few of them to be found who, by
reason of this mixture, do not only frequently contradict one another but themselves also. And
therefore, when the apostasy grew greater, he, as it were, buried the Truth with this veil of
darkness, wholly shutting out people from true knowledge and making the learned, so accounted,
busy themselves with idle and needless questions, while the weighty truths of God were neglected
and, as it were, went into desuetude. Now, though the grossest of these abuses be swept away by
Protestants, yet the evil root still remains and is nourished and upheld, and upon the growing
hand, that this science is still kept up and deemed necessary for a minister; for while the pure
learning of the Spirit of Truth is despised and neglected and made ineffectual, man's fallen, earthly
wisdom is upheld; and so in that he labours and works with the Scriptures, being out of the Life
and Spirit those that wrote were in, by which they are only rightly understood and made use of.
And so he that is to be a minister must learn this art or trade of merchandising with the Scriptures
and be that which the apostle would not be, to wit, a trader with them (2 Cor. 2:17).p That he may
acquire a trick from a verse of Scripture by adding his own barren notions and conceptions to it,
and his uncertain conjectures, and what he hath stolen out of books (for which end he must have
of necessity a good many by him) and may each Sabbath day (as they call it) or oftener make a
discourse for an hour long; and this is called the preaching of the word; whereas the Gift, Grace,
and Spirit of God, to teach, open, and instruct, and to preach a word in season, is neglected; and
so man's arts and parts, and knowledge and wisdom which is from below, set up and established
in the temple of God, yea and above the little seed: which in effect is Antichrist working in the
mystery; and so the devil may be as good and able a minister as the best of them; for he has better
skill in languages, and more logic, philosophy and school divinity than any of them, and knows the
Truth in the notion better than they all, and can talk more eloquently than all those preachers. But
what availeth all this? Is it not all but as death, as a painted sepulchre and dead carcass without
the Power, Life and Spirit of Christianity, which is the marrow and substance of a Christian
ministry, and he that hath this and can speak from it, though he be a poor shepherd or a fisherman,
and ignorant of all that learning and of all those questions and notions, yet speaking from the
Spirit, his ministry will have more influence towards the converting of a sinner unto God than all
of them, learned after the flesh; as in that example of the old man at the Council of Nice did
appear.
§XXIII. And if in any age since the apostles' days God
hath purposed to show his power by weak instruments, for the battering down of that carnal and
heathenish wisdom, and restoring again the ancient simplicity of Truth, this is it; for in our day
God hath raised up witnesses for himself, as he did fishermen of old, many, yea most of whom are
labouring and mechanic men, who, altogether without that learning, have by the power and Spirit
of God struck at the very root and ground of Babylon, and in the strength and might of this power
have gathered thousands, by reaching their consciences, into the same power and life; who, as to
the outward part, have been far more knowing than they, yet not able to resist the virtue that
proceeded from them. Of which I myself am a true witness, and can declare from a certain experience, because my heart hath been often greatly broken and
tendered by that virtuous Life that proceeded from the powerful ministry of those illiterate men:
so that by their very countenance, as well as words, I have felt the evil in me often chained down
and the good reached to and raised. What shall I then say to you who are lovers of learning and
admirers of knowledge? Was not I also a lover and admirer of it, who also sought after it
according to my age and capacity? But it pleased God, in his unutterable love early to withstand
my vain endeavours while I was yet but eighteen years of age, and made me seriously to consider
(which I wish also may befall others) that "without holiness and regeneration, no man can
see God"; and that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and to depart
from iniquity a good understanding."q And how much "knowledge puffeth up" and leadeth away
from that inward quietness, stillness, and humility of mind where the Lord appears and his
heavenly wisdom is revealed. If ye consider these things, then will ye say with me, that all this
learning, wisdom and knowledge, gathered in this fallen nature, is but as dross and dung in
comparison of the cross of Christ, especially being destitute of that Power, Life and Virtue, which
I perceived these excellent, though despised because illiterate, witnesses of God to be filled with;
and therefore, seeing that in and among them I with many others have found the heavenly food
that gives contentment, let my soul seek after this learning and wait for it forever.
§XXIV. Having thus spoken of the call and
qualifications of a Gospel minister, that which, comes next to be considered is what his proper
work is, how and by what rule he is to be ordered. Our adversaries do all along go upon
outwards, and therefore have certain prescribed rules and methods, contrived according to their
human and earthly wisdom. We, on the contrary, walk still upon the same foundation, and lean
always upon the immediate assistance and influence of that Holy Spirit which God hath given his
children to teach them all things, and lead them in all things; which Spirit, being the Spirit of order
and not of confusion, leads us and as many as follow it into such a comely
and decent order as becometh the Church of God. But our adversaries, having shut themselves
out from this immediate counsel and influence of the Spirit, have run themselves into many
confusions and disorders, seeking to establish an order in this matter. For some will have first a
chief bishop or pope to rule and be a prince over all; and under him by degrees, cardinals,
patriarchs, archbishops, priests, deacons, sub-deacons and besides these, acoluthi,
tonsorati, ostiarii, &c. And in their theology, as they call it, professors,
bachelors, doctors, &c. And others would have every nation independent of another, having
its own metropolitan or patriarch, and the rest in order subject to him, as before. Others again are
against all precedency among pastors, and constitute their subordination not of persons but of
powers: as first the consistory or session; then the class, or presbytery; then the provincial; and
then the national synod or assembly. Thus do they tear one another and contend among
themselves concerning the ordering, distinguishing, and making their several orders and offices,
concerning which there hath been no less contest, not only by way of verbal dispute, but even by
fighting, tumults, wars, devastations, and bloodshed, than about the conquering, overturning, and
establishing of kingdoms. And the histories of late times are as full of the various tragedies acted
upon the account of this spiritual and ecclesiastical monarchy and commonwealth, as the histories
of old times, that gave account of the wars and contests that fell out both in the Assyrian, Persian,
Greek and Roman empires. These last upon this account, though among those that are called
Christians, have been no less bloody and monstrous than the former among heathens, concerning
their outward empires and governments. Now all this, both among Papists and Protestants,
proceedeth, in that they seek in imitation to uphold a form and shadow of things, though they
want the Power, Virtue and Substance, though for many of their orders and forms they have not
so much as the name in the Scripture. But in opposition to all this mass of formality and heap of
orders, rules and governments, we say the substance is chiefly to be sought after, and the Power,
Virtue and Spirit is to be known and waited for, which is One in all the different names and offices
the Scripture makes use of; as appears by 1 Cor. 12:4 (often before
mentioned), "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit." And after the
apostle, throughout the whole chapter, hath shown how one and the selfsame Spirit worketh in
and quickeneth each member, then in verse 28 he showeth how thereby God hath set in the
church, "first apostles, secondly prophets, teachers," &c. And likewise to the
same purpose (Eph. 4:11), he showeth how by these gifts "he hath given some apostles,
some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, some teachers," &c. Now it was
never Christ's purpose, nor the apostles', that Christians should without this Spirit and heavenly
gift, set up a shadow and form of these orders, and so make several ranks and degrees to establish
a carnal ministry of men's making, without the Life, Power and Spirit of Christ: this is that work
of anti-Christ and mystery of iniquity that hath got up in the dark night of apostasy; but in a true
church of Christ, gathered together by God, not only unto the belief of the principles of Truth but
also into the Power, Life and Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God is the Orderer, Ruler and
Governor, as in each particular, so in the general: and when they assemble together to wait upon
God and worship and adore him, then such as the Spirit sets apart to the ministry by its divine
Power and influence opening their mouths and giving them to exhort, reprove and instruct with
virtue and power, these are thus of God ordained and admitted into the ministry, and their
brethren cannot but hear them, receive them, and also honor them for their work's sake, and so
this is not monopolized to a certain kind of men, as the clergy (who are to that purpose educated
and brought up, as other carnal artists) and the rest to be despised as laics; but it is left to the free
gift of God to choose any whom he seeth meet thereunto, whether rich or poor, servant or
master, young or old, yea male or female. And such as have this call verify the Gospel, by
"preaching not in speech only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost, and in much
fullness" (1 Thess. 1:5), and cannot but be received and heard by the sheep of Christ.
§XXV. Obj. But if it be objected here that I
seem hereby to make no distinction at all betwixt ministers and others; which is contrary to the
apostle's saying (1 Cor. 12:29), "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all
teachers?" &c. from thence they insinuate that I also contradict his comparison, in that
chapter, of the church of Christ with a human body; as where he saith (v.
17), "If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing,
where were the smelling?" &c. Also the apostle not only distinguisheth the ministers
of the Church in general from the rest of the members but also from themselves, as naming them
distinctly and separately, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, &c.
Answ. As to the last part of this objection, to which I shall first answer: it is
apparent that this diversity of names is not for to distinguish separate offices, but to denote the
different and various operations of the Spirit, a manner of speech frequent with the apostle Paul
wherein he sometimes expatiates to the illustrating of the glory and praise of God's Grace, as in
particular (Rom. 12:6): "Having then gifts differing according to the Grace that is given us,
whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on
our ministering; or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation."
Now none will say from all this that these are distinct offices, or do not or may not coincide in one
person, as may all those other things mentioned by him, in the subsequent verses, viz., of loving,
being kindly affectioned, fervency of spirit, hospitality, diligence, blessing, rejoicing, &c.
Which yet he numbers forth as different gifts of the Spirit. And, according to this objection might
be placed as distinct and separate offices, which were most absurd.
Secondly, in these very places mentioned it is clear that it is no real distinction of separate
offices; because all acknowledge that pastors and teachers, which the apostle there no less
separateth and distinguisheth than pastors and prophets, or apostles, are one and the same, and
coincide in the same office and person, and therefore so may be said of the rest. For
"prophecy" as it signifieth the foretelling of things to come, is indeed a distinct
gift, but no distinct office, and therefore our adversaries do not place it among their several
orders, neither will they deny but that both may be and hath been given of God to some that not
only have been pastors and teachers, and that there it hath coincided in one person with these
other offices, but also to some of the laics, and so it hath been found, according to their own
concession, without the limits of their clergy. Prophecy in the other sense, to wit, as it signifieth a speaking from the Spirit of Truth, is not only peculiar to
pastors and teachers, who ought so to prophesy, but even a common privilege to the saints: for
though to instruct, teach and exhort be proper to such as are more particularly called to the work
of the ministry, yet it is not so proper to them, as not to be, when the saints are met together, as
any of them are moved by the Spirit, common to others: for some acts belong to all in such a
relation, but not only to those within that relation, Competunt omni, sed non soli: thus to
see and hear are proper acts of a man; seeing it may be properly predicated of him, that he heareth
and seeth: yet are they common to other creatures also. So to prophesy, in this sense, is indeed
proper to ministers and teachers; yet not so, but that it is common and lawful to other saints,
when moved thereunto, though it be not proper to them by way of relation, because,
notwithstanding that motion, they are not particularly called to the work of the ministry, as
appears by 1 Cor. 14, where the apostle at large declaring the order and ordinary method of the
church saith (vv. 30-31), "But if anything be revealed to another that sitteth by let the first
hold his peace, for ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all be comforted":
which showeth that none is here excluded. But yet that there is a subordination, according to the
various measures of the gift received, the next verse showeth: "And the spirits of the
prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace."
Now that prophesying, in this sense, may be common to all saints, appears by verse 39 of the
same chapter, where speaking to all in general he saith, "Therefore, brethren, covet
to prophesy"; and (v. 1) he exhorts them, saying "Covet6 spiritual gifts, but the rather that ye may prophesy."
Secondly, as to evangelists, the same may be said: for whoever preacheth the Gospel is
really an evangelist, and so consequently every true minister of the Gospel is one, else what
proper office can they assign to it, unless they should be so foolish as to affirm that none were
evangelists but Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, who wrote the account of Christ's life and
sufferings? And then it were neither a particular office, seeing John and Matthew were apostles, Mark and Luke pastors and teachers, so that there they
coincided in one, and indeed it is absurd to think, that upon that particular account the apostle
used the word "evangelist." Calvin acknowledgeth that "such, as preach the
Gospel in purity after some time of apostasy, may be truly called evangelists," and therefore
saith, "that there were apostles in his time"; and hence the Protestants at their first
coming forth, termed themselves evangelici, or evangelics.
Lastly, an apostle, if we look to the etymology of the word, signifies one that is sent, and
in respect every true minister is sent of God in so far he is an apostle, though these twelve,
because of their being specially sent of Christ, were therefore called apostles, 
, or per eminentiam, i.e., by
way of excellency. And yet that there was no limitation to such a number as some foolishly
imagine, it appears, because after that number was filled up, the apostle Paul was afterwards so
called; therefore we judge that these are no distinct separate offices, but only names used upon
occasions to express the more eminent arising and shining forth of God's grace, as if any minister
of Christ should now proselyte and turn a whole nation to the Christian faith, though he had no
distinct office, yet I doubt not but both Papists and Protestants would judge it tolerable to call
such an one an apostle or an evangelist. For some of the Jesuits call of their sect apostles of India
and of Japan, upon this alleged7 account.
And Calvin testifies that there were apostles and evangelists in his time, upon the account of the
Reformation, upon which account we have known John Knox often called the apostle of
Scotland, so that we conclude that ministers, pastors, or teachers doth comprehend all, and that
the office is but one, and therefore in that respect we judge there ought to be no precedency
among them; to prove which I shall not insist, seeing it is shown largely and treated of by such as
have denied the diocesan episcopacy, as they call it.
§XXVI. As to the first part of the objection, viz., that
I seem to make no distinction betwixt the minister and people, I answer, If it be understood of a
liberty to speak or prophesy by the Spirit, I say all may do that, when moved thereunto, as above
is shown; but we do believe and affirm that some are more particularly
called to the work of the ministry and therefore are fitted of the Lord for that purpose, whose
work is more constantly and particularly to instruct, exhort, admonish, oversee, and watch over
their brethren; and that as there is something more incumbent upon them in that respect than upon
every common believer, so also, as in that relation, there is due to them from the flock such
obedience and subjection as is mentioned in these testimonies of the Scripture: Heb. 13:17; 1
Thess. 5:12-13; 1 Tim. 5:17; 1 Pet. 5:5. Also besides these, who are thus particularly called to
the ministry and constant labour in the Word and doctrine, there are also the elders, who, though
they be not moved to a frequent testimony by way of declaration in words, yet as such are grown
up in the experience of the blessed work of Truth in their hearts, watch over and privately
admonish the young, care for the widows, the poor, and fatherless, and care and look that nothing
be wanting, but that peace, love, unity, concord and soundness be preserved in the Church of
Christ; and this answers to the deacons mentioned (Acts 6).
That which we oppose is the distinction of laity and clergy (which in the Scripture is not to
be found) whereby none are admitted unto the work of the ministry but such as are educated at
schools on purpose, and instructed in logic and philosophy, &c., and so are at their
apprenticeship to learn the art and trade of preaching even as a man learns any other art, whereby
all other honest mechanic men, who have not got this heathenish art, are excluded from having
this privilege; and so he that is a scholar thus bred up must not have any honest trade whereby to
get him a livelihood, if he once intend for the ministry, but he must see to get him a place, and
then he hath his set hire for a livelihood to him; he must also be distinguished from the rest by the
color of his clothes, for he must only wear black, and must be a master of arts: but more of this
hereafter.
§XXVII. As this manner of separating men for the
ministry is nothing like the church in the apostles' days, so great evils have and do follow upon it.
For first parents, seeing both the honor and profit that attends the clergy, do allot their children
sometimes from their infancy to it, and so breed them up on purpose: and
others, come to age, upon the same account betake them to the same trade, and having these
natural and acquired parts, that are judged the necessary qualifications of a minister, are thereby
admitted, and so are bred up in idleness and pleasure, thinking it a disgrace for them to work with
their hands; only if they study a little out of their books, to make a discourse once or twice in a
week during the running of an hourglass: whereas the Gift, Grace and Spirit of God to call, gift
and qualify for the ministry is neglected and overlooked. And many covetous, corrupt, earthly,
carnal men, having a mere show and form, but strangers to and utterly ignorant of the inward
work of grace upon their hearts, are brought in and intrude themselves, and so, through them,
death, barrenness, and darkness, and by consequence, superstition, error and idolatry hath entered
and leavened the church; and they that will narrowly observe shall find that it was thus the
apostasy came to take place; of the truth of which I could give many examples which for brevity's
sake I omit. For so the office, reverence, and respect due to it was annexed to the mere name, so
that when once a man was ordained a bishop or a priest he was heard and believed, though he had
nothing of the Spirit, Power, and Life that the true apostles and ministers were in, that in a short
time the succession came to be of the name and title and the office was thereto annexed, and not
of the nature, virtue, and life. Which in effect made them to cease to be the ministry and ministers
of Christ, but only a shadow and vain image of it, which also decaying was in some ages so
metamorphosed, that not only the substance was lost, but the very form wholly vitiated, altered,
and marred, that it may be far better said of the pretended Christian Church, as was disputed of
Theseus's boat (which by the piecing of many new pieces of timber was wholly altered) whether
indeed it were the same or another. But in case that the first had been of oak, and the last pieces
put in but of rotten fir, and that also the form had been so far changed as to be nothing like the
first, I think it would have suffered no dispute, but might have easily been concluded to be quite
another, retaining nothing but the name, and that also unjustly. Secondly, from this distinction of
laity and clergy this abuse also follows, that good, honest, mechanic men, and others who have
not learned the art and trade of preaching and so are not licentiated
according to these rules they prescribe unto themselves, such, I say, being possessed with a false
opinion that it is not lawful for them to meddle with the ministry, nor that they are any ways fit for
it, because of the defect of that literature, do thereby neglect the gift in themselves and quench
many times the pure breathings of the Spirit of God in their hearts; which, if given way to, might
have proved much more for the edification of the Church than many of the cunned8 sermons of the learned. And so by
this means the apostle's command and advice is slighted, who exhorteth (1 Thess. 5:19-20)
"not to quench the Spirit, nor despise prophesying": and all this is done by men
pretending to be Christians, who glory that the first preachers and propagators of their religion
were such kind of plain mechanic men and illiterate. And even Protestants do no less than Papists
exclude such kind of men from being ministers among them, and thus limit the Spirit and gift of
God, though their fathers, in opposition to Papists, asserted the contrary; and also their own
histories declare how that kind of illiterate men did, without learning, by the Spirit of God, greatly
contribute in divers places to the Reformation.
By this it may appear that as in calling and qualifying so in preaching and praying and the
other particular steps of the ministry, every true minister is to know the Spirit of God by its virtue
and life, to accompany and assist him. But, because this relates to worship, I shall speak of it
more largely in the next proposition, which is concerning worship. The last thing to be considered
and inquired into is concerning the maintenance of a Gospel minister; but before I proceed I judge
it fit to speak something in short concerning the preaching of women, and to declare what
we hold in that matter.
Seeing "male and female are one in Christ Jesus," and tha he gives his Spirit
no less to one than to the other, when God moveth by his Spirit in a woman we judge it no ways
unlawful for her to preach in the assemblies of God's people. Neither think we that of Paul (1
Cor. 14:34), to reprove the inconsiderate and talkative women among the Corinthians, who
troubled the church of Christ with their unprofitable questions, or that (1
Tim. 2:11), that "women ought to learn in all silence, not usurping authority over the
man," any ways repugnant to this doctrine; because it's clear that women have prophesied
and preached in the Church, else had that saying of Joel been badly applied by Peter (Acts 2:17).
And, seeing Paul himself, in the same epistle to the Corinthians, giveth rules how women should
behave themselves in their public preaching and praying, it would be a manifest contradiction if
that place were other ways taken in a larger sense; and the same Paul speaks of a woman that
laboured with him in the work of the gospel; and it is written that Philip had four daughters that
prophesied;r and lastly, it hath been
observed that God hath effectually in this day converted many souls by the ministry of women,
and by them also frequently comforted the souls of his children; which manifest experience puts
the thing beyond all controversy: but now I shall proceed to speak of the maintenance of
ministers.
§XXVIII. We freely acknowledge, as the Proposition
holds forth, that there is an obligation upon such to whom God sends, or among whom he raiseth
up a minister, that if need be they minister to his necessities. Secondly, that it is lawful for him to
receive what is necessary and convenient. To prove this I need not insist, for our adversaries will
readily grant it to us, for the thing we affirm is that this is all that these scripture testimonies
relating to this thing do grant (Gal. 6:6; 1 Cor. 9:11-14; 1 Tim. 5:18). That which we then
oppose in this matter is first, that it should be constrained and limited. Secondly, that it should be
superfluous, chargeable, and sumptuous. And thirdly, the manifest abuse hereof, of which I shall
also briefly treat.
As to the first, our adversaries are forced to recur to the example of the Law, a refuge
they use in defending most of their errors and superstitions which are contrary to the nature and
purity of the Gospel.
Obj. They say, God appointed the Levites the tithes, therefore they belong also to
such as minister in holy things under the Gospel.
Answ. I answer, all that can be gathered from this is that as the priests had a
maintenance allowed them under the law, so also the ministers and preachers under the Gospel,
which is not denied: but the comparison will not hold that they should have the very same, since
First, there is no express Gospel command for it, neither by Christ nor his apostles. Secondly, the
parity doth no ways hold betwixt the Levites under the Law, and the preachers under the Gospel;
because the Levites were one of the tribes of Israel and so had a right to a part of the inheritance
of the land as well as the rest of their brethren, and having none had this allotted to them in lieu of
it. Next, the tenth of the tithes was only allowed to the priests that served at the altar, the rest
being for the Levites, and also to be put up in storehouses for entertaining of the widows and
strangers. But these preachers, notwithstanding they inherit what they have by their parents as
well as other men, yet claim the whole tithes, allowing nothing either to widow or stranger. But
as to the tithes I shall not insist, because divers others have clearly and learnedly treated of it
apart, and also divers Protestants do confess them not to be jure divino, and the parity as
to the quota doth not hold, but only in general as to the obligation of a maintenance. Which
maintenance, though the hearers be obliged to give and fail of their duty if they do not, yet that it
ought neither to be received nor yet forced, I prove, because Christ, when he sent forth his
apostles, said, "Freely ye have received, freely give" (Matt. 10:8), and yet they had
liberty to receive meat and drink from such as offered them to supply their need. Which shows
that they were not to seek or require anything by force, or to stint, or make a bargain beforehand,
as the preachers as well among Papists as Protestants do in these days, who will not preach to any
until they be first sure of so much a year; but on the contrary, these were to do their duty and
freely to communicate (as the Lord should order them) what they had received, without seeking
or expecting a reward.
The answer given to this by Nicolaus Arnoldus, Exercit. Theolog. sect. 42-43, is
not to be forgotten, but indeed to be kept upon record for a perpetual remembrance of him and
his brethren, for he frankly answers after this manner, "We have not
freely received, and therefore are not bound to give freely." The answer I confess is
ingenuous and good. For if those that receive freely are to give freely, it would seem to follow by
the rule of contraries, that those that receive not freely ought not to give freely, and I shall grant
it. Only they must grant me that they preach not by and according to the Gift and Grace of God
received, nor can they be good stewards of the "manifold grace of God," as every
true minister ought to be; or else they have gotten this gift or grace by money, as Simon Magus
would have been compassing it, since they think themselves not bound to give it without money
again. But to be plain, I believe he intended not that it was from the gift or grace of God they
were to preach, but from their acquired arts and studies, which have cost them much labour and
also some money at the University; and therefore, as he that puts his stock into the public bank
expects interest again, so these scholars having spent some money learning the art of preaching
think they may boldly say they have it not freely, for it hath cost them both money and pains, and
therefore they expect both money and ease again. And therefore, as Arnoldus gets money for
teaching his young students the art and trade of preaching, so he intends they should be repaid
before they give it again to others. It was of old said, "Omnia venalia
Romae," i.e., "All things are set out to sale at Rome," but now the same
proverb may be applied to Franeker. And therefore Arnoldus's students, when they go about to
preach, may safely seek and require hereby, telling their hearers their master's maxim, Nos
gratis non accepimus, ergo neque gratis dare tenemur. But then they may answer again that
they find them and their master to be none of his ministers, who when he sent forth his disciples,
gave them this command, "Freely ye have received, freely give," and therefore we will
have none of your teaching, because we perceive you to be of the number of those "that
look for their gain from their quarter."s
§XXIX. Secondly, The Scripture testimonies that urge
this are in the same nature of those that press charity and liberality towards
the poor and command hospitality, &c. But these are not, nor can be stinted to a certain
quantity, because they are deeds merely voluntary, where the obedience to the command lieth in
the good will of the giver, and not in the matter of the thing given, as Christ showeth in the
example of the widow's mite. So that though there be an obligation upon Christians to minister of
outward things to their ministers, yet there can be no definition of the quantity, but by the giver's
own consent, and a little from one may more truly fulfill the obligation than a great deal from
another. And therefore as acts of charity and hospitality can neither be limited nor forced, so
neither can this.
Obj. If it be objected that ministers may and ought to exhort, persuade, yea and
earnestly press Christians (if they find them defective therein) to acts of charity and hospitality,
and so may they do also to the giving of maintenance;
Answ. I answer, all this saith nothing for a stinted and forced maintenance (for
which there cannot so much as the show of one solid argument be brought from Scripture). I
confess ministers may use exhortation in this as much as in any other case, even as the apostle did
to the Corinthians, showing them their duty; but it were fit for ministers that do so that their
testimony might have the more weight, and be the freer of all suspicion of covetousness and
self-interest, that they might be able to say truly in the sight of God that which the same apostle
subjoins upon the same occasion (1 Cor. 9:15-18): "But I have used none of these things.
Neither have I written these things that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to
die than that any man should make my glorying void. For though I preach the Gospel, I have
nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me, yea woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel.
For if I do this thing willingly I have a reward; but if against my will, a dispensation of the Gospel
is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that when I preach the Gospel I may
make the Gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the Gospel."
Thirdly, As there is neither precept nor example for this forced and stinted maintenance in
the Scripture, so the apostle, in his solemn farewell to the pastors and elders
of the church of Ephesus, guards them against it (Acts 20:33-35). But if the thing had been either
lawful or practised, he would rather have exhorted them to be content with their stinted hire, and
not to covet more; whereas he showeth them, first, by his own example, that they were not to
covet or expect any man's silver or gold. Secondly, that they ought to work with their hands for
an honest livelihood, as he had done. And lastly, he exhorts them so to do from the words of
Christ, "because it is a more blessed thing to give than to receive"; showing that it is
so far from a thing that a true minister ought to aim at or expect, that it is rather a burden to a
true minister, and cross to him, to be brought upon necessity so to lack.
§XXX. Fourthly, If a forced and stinted maintenance
were to be supposed, it would make the ministers of Christ just one with those hirelings whom the
prophets cried out against. For certainly, if a man make a bargain to preach to people for so
much a year, so as to refuse to preach unless he have, and seek to force the people to give it by
violence, it cannot be denied that such a one preacheth for hire and so "looks for his gain
from his quarter," yea and "prepares war against such as put not into his mouth":t but this is the particular special
mark of a false prophet and a hireling, and therefore can no ways compete9 to a true minister of Christ.
Next, that a superfluous maintenance, that is, more than in reason is needful ought not to
be received by Christian ministers, will not need much proof, seeing the more moderate and sober,
both among Papists and Protestants, readily confess it, who with one voice exclaim against the
excessive revenues of the clergy: and that it may not want a proof from Scripture, what can be
more plain than that of the apostle to Timothy? (1 Tim. 6:7-11), where he both shows wherewith
we ought to be content, and also the hazard of such as look after more; and indeed, since that
very obligation of giving maintenance to a minister is founded upon their
need, and such as have opportunity to work are commended rather in not receiving than in
receiving, it can no ways be supposed lawful for them to receive more than is sufficient, and
indeed, were they truly pious and right, though necessitate, they would rather incline to take too
little, than be gaping after too much.
§XXXI. Now that there is great excess and abuse
hereof among Christians, the vast revenues which the bishops and priests have, both Papists and
Protestants, do declare, since I judge it may be said without any hyperbole that some particular
persons have more paid them yearly than Christ and his apostles made use of their whole lifetime,
who yet wanted not what was needful as to the outward man, and no doubt deserved it far better
than those that enjoy that fulness. But it is manifest these bishops and priests love their fat
benefices and the pleasure and honor that attend them so well that they purpose neither to follow
Christ nor his apostles' example nor advice in this matter.
Obj. But it is usually objected, that Christians are become so hardhearted, and
generally so little heed spiritual things, that if ministers had not a settled and stinted maintenance
secured them by law they and their families might starve for want of bread.
Answ. I answer, This objection might have some weight as to a carnal ministry,
made up of natural men who have no life, power, nor virtue with them, and so may insinuate some
need of such a maintenance for such a ministry; but it saith nothing as to such as are called and
sent of God, who sends no man away faring upon his own charges, and so go forth in the
authority and power of God, to turn people from darkness to Light, for such can trust to him that
sendeth them, and do believe that he will provide for them, knowing that he requireth nothing of
any, but what he giveth power to perform; and so when they return, if he inquire, can say they
wanted nothing. And such also, when they stay in a place (being immediately furnished by God
and not needing to borrow and steal what they preach from books and take up their time that
way) fall a-working at their lawful employments and labour with their hands, as Paul did, when he
gathered the church of Corinth. And indeed, if this objection had any weight, the apostles and
primitive pastors should never have gone forth to convert the nations, for
fear of want. Doth not the doctrine of Christ teach us to venture all and part with all, to serve
God? Can they then be accounted ministers of Christ who are afraid to preach him lest they get
not money for it, or will not do it until they be sure of their payment? What for serves the
ministry but to perfect the saints, and so to convert them from that hardheartedness?
Obj. But thou wilt say, I have laboured and preached to them, and they are
hardhearted still and will not give me anything.
Answ. Then surely thou hast either not been sent to them of God, and so thy
ministry and preaching hath not been among them in the Power, Virtue, and Life of Christ, and so
thou deservest nothing; or else they have rejected thy testimony, and so are not worthy, and from
such thou oughtest not to expect, yea nor yet receive anything if they would give thee, but thou
oughtest to "shake off the dust from thy feet,"u and leave them. And how frivolous this objection is, appears in that in
the darkest and most superstitious times the priests' revenues increased most, and they were most
richly rewarded, though they deserved least. So that he that is truly sent of God, as he needs not,
so neither will he be afraid of want, so long as he serves so good a master; neither will he ever
forbear to do his work for that cause. And indeed such as make this objection show truly that
they serve not the Lord Christ but their own belly, and that makes them so anxious for want of
food to it.
§XXXII. But lastly, as to the abuses of this kind of
maintenance, indeed he that would go through them all, though he did it passingly, might make of
it alone a huge volume, they are so great and numerous. For this abuse, as others, crept in with
the apostasy, there being nothing of this in the primitive times, then the ministers claimed no
tithes, neither sought they a stinted or forced maintenance, but such as wanted had their necessity
supplied by the Church, and others wrought with their hands. But the persecutions being over,
and the emperors and princes coming under the name of Christians, the zeal of those great men was quickly abused by the covetousness of the clergy, who soon learned to
change their cottages with the palaces of princes, and rested not until by degrees some of them
came to be princes themselves, nothing inferior to them in splendor, luxury and magnificence, a
method of living that honest Peter and John the fishermen, and Paul the tentmaker, never coveted.
And perhaps as little imagined that men pretending to be their successors should have arrived to
these things; and so soon as the bishops were thus seated and constitute, forgetting the life and
work of a Christian, they went usually by the ears together about the precedency and revenues,
each coveting the chiefest and fattest benefice. It is also to be regretted to think how soon this
mischief crept in among Protestants, who had scarce well appeared when the clergy among them
began to speak at the old rate, and show that though they had forsaken the Bishop of Rome they
were not resolved to part with their old benefices, and therefore so soon as any princes or states
shook off the Pope's authority, and so demolished the abbeys, nunneries, and other monuments of
superstition, the reformed clergy began presently to cry out to the magistrates to beware of
meddling with the church's patrimony, severely exclaiming against making a lawful use of those
vast revenues that had been superstitiously bestowed upon the church (so called) to the good and
benefit of the commonwealth, as no less than sacrilege.
But by keeping up of this kind of maintenance for the ministry and clergymen, so called,
there is first a bait laid for covetousness, which is idolatry, and of all things most hurtful; so that
for covetousness sake many, being led by the desire of filthy lucre, do apply themselves to be
ministers that they may get a livelihood by it; if a man have several children, he will allot one of
them to be a minister; which if he can get him to be, he reckons it as good as a patrimony, so that
a fat benefice hath always many expectants, and then what bribing, what courting, what industry
and shameful actions are used to acquire these things is too openly known and needs not be
proven.
The scandal that herethrough is raised among Christians is so manifest that it is become a
proverb, that "the KIRK is always GREEDY."
Whereby the Gift and Grace of God being neglected, they have for the most
part no other motive or rule in applying themselves to one church more than another, but the
greater benefice. For though they hypocritically pretend, at their accepting of and entering into
their church, that they have nothing before them but the glory of God and the salvation of souls,
yet if a richer benefice offer itself, they presently find it more for God's glory to remove from the
first and go thither. And thus they make no difficulty often to change, while notwithstanding they
accuse us that we allow ministers to go from place to place, and not to be tied to one place; but
we allow this not for the gaining of money but as moved of God; for if a minister be called to
minister in a particular place, he ought not to leave it except God call him from it, and then he
ought to obey, for we make the will of God inwardly revealed, and not the love of money and
more gain, the ground of removing.
Secondly, From this abuse hath proceeded that luxury and idleness that most of the clergy
live in, even among Protestants as well as Papists, to the great scandal of Christianity. For not
having lawful trades, to work with their hands, and being so superfluously and sumptuously
provided for, they live in idleness and luxury: and there doth more pride, vanity, and worldly glory
appear in their wives and children than in most others, which is open and evident.
Thirdly, They become hereby so glued to the love of money, that there is none like them in
malice, rage and cruelty, if they be denied their hire, they rage like drunken men, fret, fume and as
it were go mad. A man may sooner satisfy the severest creditor than them, the general voice of
the poor doth confirm this, for indeed, they are far more exact in taking up the tithes of sheep,
geese, swine, and eggs, &c., and look more narrowly to it than to the members of their flock;
they will miss the least mite; and the poorest widow cannot escape their avaricious hands: twenty
lies they will hear unreproved, and as many oaths a man may swear in their hearing without
offending them, and greater evils than all this they can overlook, but if thou owest them aught
& refuse to pay it, then nothing but war will they thunder against thee, and they will
stigmatize thee with the horrible title of sacrilege, and send thee to hell without mercy, as if thou hadst committed the sin against the Holy Ghost. Of all people we can best
bear witness to this: for God having shown us this corrupt and anti-Christian ministry and called
us out from it, and gathered us unto his own power and life to be a separate people, so that we
dare not join with nor hear these anti-Christian hirelings, neither yet put into their mouths or feed
them. Oh! what malice, envy and fury hath this raised in their hearts against us? that though we
get none of their wares, neither will buy them, as knowing them to be naught, yet will they force
us to give them money; and because we cannot for conscience' sake do it, our sufferings have
upon that account been unutterable. Yea to give account of their cruelty and several sorts of
inhumanity used against us would make no small history. These avaricious hirelings have come to
that degree of malice and rage that several poor labouring men have been carried hundreds of
miles from their own dwellings and shut up in prison, some two, some three, yea, some seven
years together, for the value of one pound sterling and less. I know myself a poor widow that for
the tithes of her geese, which amounted not to five shillings, was about four years kept in prison,
thirty miles from her house. Yea they by violence for this cause have plundered of men's goods
the hundredfold, and prejudiced much more; yea hundreds have hereby spilt their innocent blood
by dying in the filthy noisome holes and prisons, and some of the priests have been so enraged
that goods thus ravished could not satisfy them, but they must also satisfy their fury by beating,
knocking, and wounding with their hands innocent men and women, for refusing (for conscience'
sake) to put into their mouths.
The only way then soundly to reform and remove all these abuses and take away the
ground and occasion of them is to take away all stinted and forced maintenance and stipends: and
seeing those things were anciently given by the people, that they return again into the public
treasure, and thereby the people may be greatly benefitted by them, for that they may supply for
these public taxations and impositions that are put upon them, and may ease themselves of them.
And whoever call or appoint teachers to themselves, let them accordingly entertain them. And for
such as are called and moved to the ministry by the Spirit of God, those that
receive them and taste of the good of their ministry will no doubt provide things needful for them,
and there will be no need of a law to force a hire for them; for he that sends them will take care
for them; and they also, having "food and raiment," will "therewith be content."v
§XXXIII. The sum then of what is said is that the
ministry that we have pleaded for, and which also the Lord hath raised up among us, is in all its
parts like the true ministry of the apostles and primitive Church. Whereas the ministry our
adversaries seek to uphold and plead for, as it doth in all its parts differ from them, so, on the
other hand, it is very like the false prophets and teachers testified against and condemned in the
Scripture, as may be thus briefly illustrated.
1. The ministry and ministers we plead for are such as are immediately called and sent
forth by Christ and his Spirit unto the work of the ministry, so were the holy apostles and
prophets, as appears by these places: Matt. 10:1,5; Eph. 4:11, Heb. 5:4.
1) But the ministry and ministers our opposers plead for are such as have no immediate
call from Christ, to whom the leading and motion of the Spirit is not reckoned necessary, but who
are called, sent forth, and ordained by wicked and ungodly men, such were of old the false
prophets and teachers, as appears by these places: Jer. 14:14-15; 23:21; and 27:15.
2. The ministers we plead for are such as are acted and led by God's Spirit, and by the
Power and operation of his Grace in their hearts are in some measure converted and regenerate,
and so are good, holy, and gracious men, such were the holy prophets and apostles, as appears
from 1 Tim. 3:2-6; Tit. 1:7-9.
2) But the ministers our adversaries plead for are such to whom the grace of God is no
needful qualification, and so may be true ministers, according to them, though they be ungodly,
unholy, and profligate men: such were the false prophets and apostles, as appears from Mic.
3:5,11; 1 Tim. 6:5-8, &c.; 2 Tim. 3:2; 2 Pet. 2:1-3.
3. The ministers we plead for are such as act, move and labour in the
work of the ministry, not from their own mere natural strength and ability, but as they are acted,
moved, under-propped, assisted and influenced by the Spirit of God, and minister according to the
gift received, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God, such were the holy prophets and
apostles: 1 Pet. 4:10-11; 1 Cor. 1:17; 2:3-5,13; Acts 2:4; Matt. 10:20; Mark 13:11; Luke 12:12; 1
Cor. 13:2.
3) But the ministers our adversaries plead for are such as wait not for, nor expect, nor
need the Spirit of God to act and move them in the work of the ministry, but what they do they do
from their own mere natural strength and ability and what they have gathered and stolen from the
letter of the Scripture and other books, and so speak it forth in the strength of their own wisdom
and eloquence, and not in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit and power: such were the
false prophets and apostles, as appears: Jer. 23:30-32,34, &c.; 1 Cor. 4:18; Jude 16.
4. The ministers we plead for are such as, being holy and humble, contend not for
precedency and priority, but rather strive to prefer one another and serve one another in love;
neither desire to be distinguished from the rest by their garments and large phylacteries, nor seek
the greetings in the marketplaces, nor uppermost rooms at feasts, nor the chief seats in the
synagogues; nor yet to be called of men Master, &c. Such were the holy prophets and
apostles, as appears from Matt. 23:8-10, and 20:25-27.
4) But the ministers our adversaries plead for are such as strive and contend for
superiority, and claim precedency over one another, affecting and ambitiously seeking after the
forementioned things, such were the false prophets and apostles in time past: Matt. 23:5-7.
5. The ministers we plead for are such as having freely received, freely give; who covet no
man's silver, gold or garments; who seek no man's goods, but seek them, and the salvation of their
souls; whose hands supply their own necessities, working honestly for bread to themselves and
their families: and if at any time they be called of God so as the work of the Lord hinder them
from the use of their trades, take what is freely given them by such to whom they have
communicated spirituals; and having food and raiment are therewith content; such were the holy prophets and apostles, as appears from Matt. 10:8; Acts 20:33-35; 1
Tim. 6:8.
5) But the ministers our adversaries plead for are such as not having freely received, will
not freely give, but are covetous, doing that which they ought not for filthy lucre's sake, as to
preach for hire and divine for money, and look for their gain from their quarter, and prepare war
against such as put not into their mouths, &c. Greedy dogs which can never have enough.
Shepherds who feed themselves and not the flock, eating the fat and clothing themselves with the
wool, making merchandise of souls, and following the way of Balaam that loved the wages of
unrighteousness. Such were the false prophets and apostles: Isa. 56:11, Ezek. 34:2-3,8; Mic.
3:5,11; Tit. 1:10-11; 2 Pet. 2:1-2,14,15.
And in a word, We are for a holy, spiritual, pure and living ministry where the ministers
are both called, qualified and ordered, acted and influenced in all the steps of their ministry by the
Spirit of God; which being wanting, we judge cease to be the ministers of Christ.
But they judging this Life, Grace, and Spirit no essential part of their ministry, are
therefore for the upholding of a human, carnal, dry, barren, fruitless and dead ministry; of which
(alas!) we have seen the fruits in the most part of their churches; of whom that saying of the Lord
is certainly verified (Jer. 23:32): "I sent them not nor commanded them, therefore they shall
not profit this people at all, saith the Lord."
Notes
a. Matt. 10:8.
b. As was betwixt the bishop of Rome, and the
bishop of Constantinople.
c. Hos. 4:9.
d. John 10:1.
e. succession.
f. who gives himself out Doctor and Professor of the
sacred theology at Franeker.
g. Matt. 12:48 &c.
h. Mark 3:33. &c.
i. 2 Cor. 6:17-18.
j. In the Life of Benedict 4. of Joh. 16. of Sylvester 3.
of Boniface 8. of Steph 6. of Jean 8. Also Onuphrius' annotations upon this Papass, towards the
end.
k. Francis Lambert of Avenion, in his book
concerning Prophecy, Learning, Tongues and the Spirit of Prophecy. Argentorat. excus.
anno 1516, deprov. cap. 24.
l. Heb. 5:4.
m. So Nic. Arnoldus, sect. 32 upon the 4
These.
n. Ibid., Nic. Arnoldus.
o. Lucas Osiander, epit hist. Eccles., lib. 2,
cap. 5, cent. 4.
p. see also 2 Pet. 2:3.
q. Job 28:28.
r. Acts 21:9.
s. Isa. 56:11.
t. Micah 3:5.
u. Matt. 10:14.
v. 1 Tim. 6:8.
Editor's Notes
1. Later editors substitute "uncleanness"
for "unclean lust."
2. Later editors omit "or need it not? yea doth
it not much rather follow that they ought to have it."
3. Later editors replace "as need is for the
Lord's glory, whose the soul is, and for whom, and with an eye to whose glory, she" with
"as the glory of God requires, for whose glory the soul."
4. Later editors replace "others" with
"men."
5. Later editors substitute "was
mistaken" for "lied."
6. Later editors change "covet" to
"desire."
7. Later editors omit "alleged."
8. cunned = researched.
9. compete = to be suitable, competent.