GOSPEL ADVICE TO GODLY BUILDERS: For the pulling down of BABEL, and the building up of ZION. For the most part written in three LETTERS, To be communicated to the REVEREND ASSEMBLY OF MINISTERS IN WESTMINSTER. By the unworthiest of all the Gospel Ministers, JOHN BRAIN. Malachy 3.3. He shall sit as a refiner and purifyer of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. LONDON: Printed in the Year. 1648. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE The LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT. Right Honourable: GOd having made you great among the People, in the great intrustments, mercies, and deliverances he hath lent you, expects a great return of all from you in your doing good to his Saints, and exalting h●● service in the Land: and here I beseech you in all humility to have especial care, that no power by Your Authority be set over the Family of God other then what God hath set up of himself; And I desire you to examine the foundation laid for the Presbyterian Government, and I suppose there will appear sanctinesse, and not sufficiency from the Word to uphold it. The fear of God, and des●re of your eternal well-being, move me to mind you of the Covenant You and the People of God have made to God in the Land, and that in the matter of his worship, that it shall be according to the Word as near as may be. Now I presume in this small ensuing Treatise your Honours may see, a Reformation may be made for nearer to the Gospel rule, than I conceive any is yet made; And then not only to God, but to God's people also in the same thing on which ground they thought their greatest loss would be their greatest gain, in failing whereof, the Lords people's expectations die, and hopes fail within them. And lastly, I presume to present this to your Honour's consideration, that until you find a way nearer to the Gospel-pattern than Presbytery is, I fear you will find there will be but little peace in the Land: the foundation whereof must be laid in God, or it will not be good to you, nor those that love and serve You. Thus beseeching you to try the truth, and trust no man, and to set up Christ among us, as the Gospel sets out the way to set him up by only, than the People shall be happy, and You high, and your Memory blessed in the generations to come. For all which, The unworthy, but willing Servant in the service of the Gospel, prays to be heaped on You: JOHN BRAIN. To you my Reverend Brethren of the ASSEMBLY. LEt it not seem strange to you, that ye see that made public which was sought earnestly at your hands to have been determined in private, because in my second and third Solicitation I received this full Answer from a Reverend Friend, and one of your Members, that the Assembly will not take that which is once concluded into a second consideration upon any private motion. In which case I think it my duty not to forbear the making of it public for the Truth's sake, as in the difference between Peter and Paul Galat. 2.5. And then secondly, if I did come up to the Assembly to inquire into the Truth of the Propositions, I should but lose my labour; so that there remains but this only way for me to discover the Truth, that it be made public for all to judge, and see how weighty and necessary a thing it is these things should be redebated and considered of in love, the things questioned being the substantials not of government only, but worship also. Thus praying God to direct You to do what is according to his will, and discover to you your failings therein, I rest, Your unworthy fellow-Labourer in the Gospel, JOHN BRAIN. To the godly and faithful READER. IN the reading this little Treatise, I desire thee to observe, that the things contained in the greater Letter were not sent in the Epistles sent to be communicated to the Assembly, but are added to make things more full and clear unto thee; I thought good to acquaint thee that for divers Months since I have finished a brief Treatise concerning the practice of the Primitive Church in government, and how it fell by degrees, and how it may be set up in this Kingdom, as my labours in my public Ministry, preaching four or five times a week, will give me leave; but the maintenance allowed me by Authority being detained from me, I am disabled for that and other works of like or greater concernment, which God in his time, if it be for the promoting of his glory, will give being unto. In the mean time I commend thee to God, and the Word of his grace, beseeching thee in thy prayer to remember Zion, and those Saints that sit by the waters of Babylon, who have hanged up their Lutes on the willow Trees, not knowing how to sing the Lords song in a strange way; and that thou pray for, and prepare thee, for the bringing forth the corner stone, that thou give up unto it cries of grace, and show thy love to God thy Lord, that thou may be thought worthy to be called to the marriage of the Lamb now ready to be amongst us, in which God shall turn the sorrow of all his Saints into sweet and saving joy; which shall make blessed the eye that seethe it, and the ear that heareth it: such is the happiness God, our God, is about to reveal in this our Land; in which our Earth and Heavens shall be new, and Sea shall be no more. In the heaps of all which happiness the Lord make thee happy, and in that which is to come. So prayeth thy Servant in the Gospel, John Brain. To all the MEMBERS of the Reverend Assembly of DIVINES at Westminster be grace and wisdom multiplied, to the enabling you to the right understanding of all Truths. Reverend and beloved: IN discharge of the dispensation of the Gospel of God committed to my trust, I desire, that both you and I may comfortably meet together before the Lord Jesus Christ at his appearing, and be able to deliver up our accounts at last of our stewardship with joy, and not with sorrow at that day; and that we may keep our Covenant made with God and his People in making such a Reformation in the Church as shall be according to the Word of God. Now I beseech you lean to an examination of your Propositions proposed to the high Court of Parliament, and examine you them again, and what in them ye find not to be agreeable to the Word, I desire you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ to correct for the truth, and for the Church sake, and for the comfort of your own souls. First, I desire you to examine all those particulars concerning the Evangelist as stated in my Letter, dated Aug. 21. The Evangelist being the first ordinary Church Officer and Office. In the Propositions the Evangelist is placed before the Prophet, which is indeed an extraordinary monster, and the other but an ordinary. 1. Which is contrary to the form of sound words, Ephes. 4.11. Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors. 2. Against the express command of Christ, who commands us to hold fast the form of sound words: 2 Tim. 1.13. God requires we should be faithful in little as well as in much. 3. It is against the express order and institution of Christ, to the subversion of the Gospel government; he having instituted Prophets to be second▪ Evangelist to be of the third, Who is now taken from his fellows, and placed above his betters. Luk. 14.8, 9, 10. 4. If you do it not, you will all lie liable to be excepted against; nor shall we who have covenanted to make a Reformation according to the Word of God, keep our Covenant with God we have made with him, if I and you in our several places endeavour it not, nor with God's people. 2 Thing pertaining to the Evangelist considerable in the Propositions is, that they are ceased with the Apostles and Prophets, the Prophets and Apostles cease in their personal presence, but their ministry there spoken of ceaseth not in the Church, Ephes. 4.13. They are to be until we all come to the unity of the faith which is to the end. For as the Jews had Moses and the Prophets in their Church, so have we the Apostles and the Prophets in our Church, Luke 16.29. compared with Ephes. 2.20. As for the Evangelist the Officer in question, hath been thrust out a long time out of the Church by Antichrist, having had no manner of ministry therein at all a long time, and so of these three only and indeed ceaseth. 3 Thing is that the Evangelist is an extraordinary office, against which in my Letter was proposed, 1 Cor. 12.28. God hath set some in the Church, first Apostles, secondarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers. That the whole Church Ministry is contained in these, I think is undeniable; yet lest it should be thought a conjecture only, I desire you to see Calvin, whose judgement I know is highly esteemed of you, part of his words are these. Non recenset omnes species, neque enim opu● fuit, tantum enim voluit exempla proponere quarto capite ad Ephesios plenior est enumeratio munerum quae ad perpetuae Ecclesiae regimen requiruntur. But to the text. 1. In that he saith, first Apostles, he showeth that of this order or number none are to be less than Apostles; and among whom, none are to be greater or less than others. 2. Between the first and the second is no medium, and therefore no place for an Evangelist to be placed in. In which second order only Prophets are placed, among which none are greater or less than other in the Church. 3. Between the second and the third is no medium, Middle number or place to place the Evangelist in, by which he may be greater than the Pastor or Teacher, though less than a Prophet; but he must be of the third order, that is, of the order of Teachers; among whom there is nothing extraordinary but an equality in office, as the Apostles were all equal in their Apostolical office, though not in gifts equal. Objection that can be made against this only is, that the Evangelist is not named. Resp. Nor is the Pastor named, yet no man will deny him to be understood, and comprehended here under. 2. He setting down the whole extraordinary Ministry above Teachers in the Apostles and Prophets, is it to be thought he setting down the Ministry God hath set up in the Church, he would leave out any of the ordinary? therefore surely comprehended them all under this word Teachers. 1. Showing all Church Ministers besides Apostles and Prophets under the Gospel government are Teachers only. 2. They are of one rank or order, to show you that one had nothing more extraordinary in him then the other. 3. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, he here speaking of every particular Church's Ministry, shows that there is, and aught to be, in every complete Church more Teachers than one; and that it ought not to be governed or ministered unto by one only man; God ordained not three for one to do it: Frustra fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora. Thus far the Letter dated, Aug. 21. Object. Have we not the Ministry of Evangelists as well as Apostles in the Gospels of Mark and Luke? Resp. The title 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I take to be humane only. Luke calls his History 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only, and not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 2. Nor know I why it should be called Gospel more than Paul's Epistles: the Lord is as evangelically held out in them, as in the Histories; and the Apostle, Rom. 2.16. calls his Epistles, Gospel. So that Tertius, Rom. 16.22. was no less an Evangelist in writing the Epistle to the Romans, than Luke by his writing the History of our Lord. 3. No● was the Evangelists work, writing, but Teaching: Matthew and John were not Evangelists by writing their Histories of Christ, but Historians, differing from Mark and Luke, in that they saw the things done. Luke wrote them from the twelve, or some of the seventy; which of them the Scripture relates not, only saith they were faithful witnesses. 4. Philip who wrote no Evangelicall Story, is called Evangelist, Act. 21.8. Luke that wrote it is not called an Evangelist, but a Physician: 2 Tim. 4.5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. The Dutch, Do't dat werck eens Evangelishe● predikers. Object. The former Treatise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, therefore Luke making it, it made him an Evangelist. Act. 1.1. Resp. All that he made of it is: 1. That whereas he received of several men several passages of the History of Christ, he p●●t them in order the first part first, the last last. Luk. 1.1.2, 3. 2. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, respects especially in a business, the manufactorship of th●● whi●●●●re was w●●ng only. I may exceed h●●●● 〈◊〉 having spoken more largely in a Tract called, The Smoke of the 〈◊〉 c●●red by the light of the Scriptures, printed, I forbear. The second General w●●●e of to be communicated to the Assembly, was the Contents of a better ●ated Sept. 5. 1648. concerning the Pastor, in the Pastor's section; the thing questioned was the use and application made 〈◊〉 Jam. 5.14, 15. Scrip. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Let him call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray over him. ●ral per lui, Beza pro eo. The words in the Propositions, the office of the Elder, that is, the Pastor is to ●ay for the sick in private, to which a blessing is especial, promised. 1. I commend to your consideration, if this be not a taking from the words of this book con●●●ied of God, Rev. 22.19. If any shall take away from the words of the book of this Prophe●●e, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and 〈◊〉 of the holy City, and from the things written in this b●●k: yea in this is a taking away from the letter, and from the sense of the Scripture which is all the taking away there meant, as I conceive. 2. In this, all the Church Elders are reduced to one, That so we may set up a government in the Church of our own by one, and pull down Jesus Christ's, which is by a combination of Church Ministry by Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers. 3. In particular, the Pasto●● the El●●● you invest wholly and alone with this ministerial office, 〈◊〉 by the express words of the Scripture one Church Minister i● not more interessed in it then another, but all jointly, and equally. 4. The work cannot ●●do●● singly in a Gospel way; the sick is commanded to send for more than one, and more than one are commanded to pray for him. The promise's it annex●● to a duty when done only according to God's w●y, and in obedience ●o his command; if we fall, and that wilfully of our part, we dep●● o●● selves wholly of the comfort of th● ordinance, and the grace o● God added thereunto, faith being not able to move an hair beyond the help it hath from the Word of God enabling him. Object. We have but one Elder, that is, the Pastor. Resp. Where is the Church then to which the sick are sent of God for this comfort, in which are to be Elders in a Church combination, Teaching the people in health, and praying for them in sickness. To this next is considerable that in the Propositions, it is said, that to the Pastor's Prayer, especially is promised a blessing. The Scripture saith, Let them pray: and after the prayer of faith shall save the sick, that is, their prayer made in faith. I think it to be beyond the power of man to make a blessing thus, promised to the whole Church Ministry, or many ordinarily to belong to one: nor do I think that ordinance as done by one, to be done in a Church way, or according to the rule of the Gospel in this place. Object. We intent the Teacher also to be here meant, though the Pastor be only named. 1. Resp. If that be granted, I suppose you yet come short of the truth; the word in the text for Elders, and the verb for let them pray, being both form in the plural, and not in the dual number, compared with the general scope of the other Scriptures, proves a plurality of Elders to be in the Church, and not a duality. 2. If the Doctor had been understood by you to be interessed herein, you would have cited this Scripture of James in his Section as well as the Pastors, and applied the duty to him, as you did, 1 Tit. 9 Eph. 4.11. quoted and applied by you to both Pastor and Teacher in both Sect. 3. I suppose you would not have so particularly invested the Pastor with it as your expressions used imply you to have done, saying, the Elder, that is, the Pastor. And so the Pastor as if all but he had nothing to do with the duty, but were excluded. The Conclusion of this second Epistle was this: God is my witness I writ these things unto you only as moved thereunto by love and fear; fear towards God, and love to you and the Gospel; and not of contention: for who am I that I should contend with the Learning, Ability, and Parts of the Assembly, but in obedience to God's command. Levit. 19.17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him: and in what wi●e can it be more Christianly done then in private writing, which I desire may be as Christianly taken, that Christ Jesus in all may be glorified▪ and the truth come to be discovered, to the edifying of the Church in love; and I shall gladly wait to do you all the servi●● I can in Christ: and rest, Yours, John Brain. Sept. 5. 1648. We c●me 〈◊〉 the third G●n●rall, and the Particulars of the third Letter. 1. I desire you to consider where Catech●●ng, as by you applied to Hebr. 5. ●2. and placed 〈◊〉 the Pastor's Section, be not the Teachers proper ministerial work, teaching the beginnings of Christ; which together with Baptism I suppose is that proper work which solely doth constitute th● Teacher in the Church, he being the first and the beginner of the Ministry. Catechising by Question and Answer was exercised without the Church among the Catecumeni only, but the preaching the beginnings of Christ in the Church to the infant's, as in this Hebr. 5.12. was only the Dr. ministry. 1. This appears in the Scriptures holding out the whole Gospel Administrators, Ephes. 4.11. beginning with the Apostles he is last, beginning in the Minister 〈◊〉 is first 2 Tim. 3.16. Scripture is profitable for doctrine, and reproof, etc. So that he gins with doctrine, and ends with perfection. As a man is first a child, and after a man: so first the doctrine for children, and then for men. 2. Scripture 2 Col. 7. rooted built up in him, and established in these, are held out the divers of the Spirit: 1 Cor. 12.4. there is a diversity of gifts, there is the spirits part. In this again is intimated the diversity of ministring, ver. 5. which the Lord Christ instituted in the Church; and then the diversity of operations which God by these several Ministers worketh, v. 6. The first of which is Rooting, which is done by preaching fundament 〈◊〉 children in grace, and not age only. Much more may be p●●secuted you concerning this. But tha● of Rom. 2.20. clear● it, where the Apostle calls the Teacher 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, which is understood only and done in a carnal manner ●●●ng us, and not according ●o Christ. For Antiquity, I now only trouble you with that of Ambrose on Ephes 1.1 who apprehending a necessity, ●o have all the Gospel Ministry in 〈◊〉 Church, ●●ould have in some way though never so corrupt, which cannot be by 〈◊〉 means done ●y us: saith of the Doctor. Magis●● 〈…〉 ist● qi●●●●o●●● 〈◊〉 ●●mpos●●nt, & verberant inqui●●● which is, 〈…〉 Teach●●●●re Exorcists, because they quiet 〈…〉 ●ye● But after to be●●●● purpose. Sive high qui lectionibus imbuendi infantes solebant imbuere sicut mos Judeorum est quorum traditio transitum fecit ad nos quae per negligentiam obsolevit. Or those (saith he) who were wont to initiate children initiated by reading, as the custom of the Jews is, whose tradition he hath caused to be passed over to us Gentiles, which by negligence is grown out of use. 1. This could not be meant of the Catechist, that was not out of use in his time, nor after. 2. If the Doctor's Ministry in Ambrose time were antiquated, who can show in whose time since it was restored to the Church again? 4. Passing by the other lesser things in your Propositions, I shall now only trouble you with two general Positions of yours, contained in the Doctor's Section. In which you say, 1. That the differing gifs may meet in, and accordingly be exercised by one and the same Minister. 2. That where is but one Minister in a particular congregation, he is to perform as he is able the whole Ministry. All which are only to hold up Parochial Congregations against the way of God; and I dare affirm, that while they stand, the way of God can never be set up among us according to the Gospel of God, nor to edification. 1. I desire you to try if ever any Apostle singly and ordinarily in any one Church whatsoever, did the whole work of the Ministry alone: Which if they had done it by an extraordinary call, were no warrant for us without some express command. 2. Where the Scriptures naming fellow-labourers, co-workers, and the like, with the Apostles joining of others with them in their Epistles prove not the contrary. 3. The Apostles, as in Peter, Act. 10.48. he commanded them to be baptised; which shows the Apostles did not baptise when a Doctor was present that ordinarily wrought with him in the ministry of the Gospel: and if at any time he should have done it in the presence of his fellow helpers, it would be now that the holy Ghost fell on them, and that it was to baptise the first converted Gentiles, but all these move him not to do irregularly in the Church. This appears in Paul also, 1 Cor. 1.14.17. v. 14. I baptised none of you but Crispus and Gaius. 1. The Apostle was at Corinth the time of gathering that Church. 2. In the gathering of it he baptised few only of that famous Church: now without Baptism they could not be of the Church, which clearly proves Paul had some other ministering with him to the constituting of the Church there, unless we say ●●●e were baptise● 〈◊〉 these 〈◊〉 or three families in that City. 3. Ver. 17. ●●ewe Paul had his ministry there, but plainly tells us it was not bapt●●●ng but evangelizing, as a work distinct from it. 4. Should not we now in ●●ing all, do ●ore than ever any Apostle did do in the Church ordinarily; Are we more able than they? shall we exceed our pattern? or ●o 〈◊〉 we walk by an other rule then the Gospel? And if so, it were good to consider whose R●le we walk by, and what warrant we have for it. Compare 2 Cor. 1.19. 2 Cor. 2.15, 16. the Son of God Jesus Christ who was preached amongst you by us, even by me, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, we 〈◊〉 to God a sweet savour, ver. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. It may be applied to a particular man, what one man is fit for these things which we three do: is there any dares do that alone that Paul himself dares not? But I rather do conceive the Apostle means of every particular ministry no man is fit for it, or else the aggravation were not so considerable. Conclusion hence is, that 〈◊〉 ●n since the Apostles had any call to officiate all the several Church offices together; and therefore none do or may officiate them by any warrant from the Gospel. We come to the Scriptures set down in the Doctor's Section, brought to prove a single ministry, etc. Rom. 12.6, 7, 8. twice quoted. 1 Cor. 12.4, 5, 6. Ephes. 4.11. 1 Cor. 12.28. 1 Pet. 4.10. These Scriptures make clear against your single Ministry, as after all I shall, the Lord assisting me, show you how. Others there are set down which seem to prove it, but I suppose rightly understood, prove nothing less. 1. Scrip. 1 Tit. ●0 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be abl●●y sou●● doctrine both to exhort, and convince the gainsayers. This text twice cited in this Section, and proves little, it respects not the ministry as exercised in the Church among believers, but shows what sufficiency is required to be in a Minister, having to do with adversary's of the truth ●ith● 〈◊〉 that he must hold the truth against those ●ould take i●●rom him, and be able, maintain it against those gainsay it be sound doctrine, that is, by the Word, or sound and ●ndeny able conclus●●●y n● there from, by which he may be able to convince 〈◊〉 opp●●● 〈◊〉 truth. 2. Scripture is 1 Tim. 6. ●. In this Epistle I suppose Timothy was wrote t● as to a ●ea●●● only; which place ●e supplied ministering to the Thessalonians, Paul, Silvanus, Timothy working together. 1 Thes. 1.1. compared with 2 cap. 1. ye know our entrance in unto you. 1 Tim. 6.2. And they that have believing masters, l●● them not despise them, because they are brethren: but rather do them service, ●e 〈◊〉 they are faithful, and beloved, partakers of the benefit: These things 〈◊〉 and ●●hort. That that is brought hence to prove a single Ministry is this, that it is said, These things teach and exhort; and that Teaching, the Doctor's office, and Exhorting, the Pastor's ministry, are joined both together, and are enjoined one man. Resp. 1. Here is exhortation indeed added to teaching, but is commanded only in a particular case. 2. It is limited to these things, and proves it was not proper to the Teacher in other cases and things to usurp the Pastor's office, in using the public ministerial exhortation of the Pastor. A particularibus non datur conclusio. So that if in a particular case as this we conclude with the Philosopher, we must conclude against the Proposition. 3. It was not such as the Pastor's exhortation was; the Pastors was to exhort good men to be better, as 2 Pet. 1.4.8. to a growth and increase of godliness; this was to take men from evil to good; and consisted in matter of morality, and so rightly fitted the Doctor's ministry, it pertaining to work repentance from dead works, Heb. 6. 4. The defect was in the Teacher's society, and may be God stirred him up to this, who thought it the Pastor's duty only to exhort in this as in all other cases. 3. Scripture brought to prove a single Ministry, 2. Tim. 4.2. twice quoted: Preach the Word, be instant in season, and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all or in all long-suffering and doctrine. 1. This Epistle I suppose to be written to him as Pastor, who, I suppose, ministered that part of ministry with Paul at Ephesus, Act. 19.22. which was another time then that, 1 Tim. 1.3. speaks of there Paul bids him stay here, he sends him forth; and its clear was the last Epistle be wrote, and immediately going before his death. 2. Tim●thy himself had not exercised the full Ministry, for ver. 5. following, Timothy is bid do the work of an Evangelist, and bear the full ministry. Now it is to be observed, that the Pastor assuming the Evangelists place of ministry, the Doctor was chosen Pastor, and the Evangelist did no more the work of a Pastor. 3. He then exercised the Pastor's part of the Ministry only, the words before are but an exhortation ●●r preaching an ordinary word given, all publi●●●xercise 〈◊〉 bounded and limited by that which followeth, wh●●● shows wh●●●● is to preach, ●●proof exhort 〈◊〉. T●● 〈◊〉 words following prescribe the manner of doing it, as in the sig●●●●●●●ve with all 〈◊〉 ●●ffer●●g and doctrine: doctrine here sh●●●●is ●●pro●●●●d ●●hortation shoul● be taken from the Word only that it may av●●l. Lastly, preach was to distinguish private reproof from public and pastoral. The only Scripture you have set down to prove it by, is that of 1 Cor. 14.3. ●e that ●●●hefieth, speaketh to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. In which ind●●d are all the distinct operations of the Ministry. But, 1. The Ministry though consisting of several parts, is spoken of as one in the Scripture, though the ministry of Apostles differ from that of Prophe●● that of Prophets from that of Evangelists, etc. yet Act. 6.4. We will give ourselves continually to prayer, and the ministry of the word: he●e the ministry of the word is spoken of as one particular work only, when the Apos●●●●●d at several times and places all the parts 〈◊〉 ministry. 2. As the ministry, so the Ministers are said to be one: 1 Cor. 3.6.8. v ●. I ●●ve planted, Apollo watered: ver. 8. Now he that planteth, and he that watereth, 〈◊〉 now, they are o●●, that 〈◊〉, Vnum minister●●m sed duo ministri. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this place is conjunctio completi●●, and is put for pr●inde, signifying and then the being thus to be read, He that prophesieth doth it to edification, and then to exhortations and after it hath effected its w●●k sufficiently, then to consolation. 4 Ver. 6. following expounds it clearly, s●●th the Apostle, What shall I profit you except I speak by revelation as a Prophet, by knowledge as an Evangelist, by prophecy as a Pastor, by doctrine as a Teacher in an extraordinary ●●e having a call to exercis● all. 1. Hence he joins revelation an extraordinary with the ordinary. 2. To show ●●one by 〈◊〉 ordinary call may da●e to do them, unless he could do 〈◊〉 extraordinary also as he could, or this is no pattern for any. 5. This is held o●● cle●● 〈…〉 ●●●●tion, v. 7. And even things without life giving sc●●d, whet●●● 〈…〉 except they give a distinction in th● 〈◊〉, how sh●ll be 〈◊〉 ●hat i● piped or harped: v. 8 〈◊〉 if the 〈…〉 an u●●●rtain found, who shall prepare him, etc. 1. Here are three Instruments signifying this threefold Ministry, Pipe, Harp, Trump. 2. They must have sounds. Rom. 10.18. 3. They must have distinct differing sounds according to their differing Ministry; as now the Ministry is exercised, it is ●●t ●own what is piped or harped. 6. To say one may do all, is to confound the whol● frame of that discipline Christ hath set up in his Church; and is against the many Scriptures which clearly hold out the differing ministeries, and sets Scripture against Scripture. For Antiquity, I only commend now unto you that of Tertullian, in his book, the exhortatione castitatis, a man that knew better the Gospel discipline then any now living, he being about the year 200. when the Church had some purity in it: his words are these. Differentiam inter ordinem & plebem constituit Ecclesia authorit●●, & honour per ordinis cons●ssum sanctificatus; adeo ubi non est Ecclesiastici ●●dinis consessus, & Offers, & Tinguis, & Sacerdos es tibi solus: sed ubi tres, Ecclesia est licet Laici unusquisque sua fide vivit, necest personarum accepti● apud Deum quoniam non auditores legis justificantur à Deo sed factores, s●cundum quod Apostolus dicit. Igitur si babes jus sacerdotis in temetipso, ubi necesse 〈◊〉 habeas etiam ●portet disciplinam Sacerdotis, Digamus, Tinguis, Diga●●● Offers, quanto magis Laico digamo Capitale est agere pro Sacerdote, cum ipsi Sacerdoti digamo facto auferatur agere Sacerdotem. Object. Sed necessitati indulgetur inquis. Resp. Nulla necessitas excusatur quae potest non esse. For the understanding of this (1.) the cause of it was from Gods forbidding the Priest under the levitical Priesthood of having two wives; which he spiritually applieth to the Ministers of the Gospel. 2. The terms are obsolet of Offers for the Evangelist, Tinguis the Teacher, Sacerdos the Pastor. 3. That in Tertullia's time, Laymen did usurp the Ministry, ●s he complains, De praescrip. Haeret. and so here. The sense of Tertullian I apprehend to be this. The Authority of the Church makes the difference between the Mini●ery and the People; and the honour is sanctified by the Confession of the ministry; so as that where there is not a Confession of Ecclesiastical order, the Evangelist, and Teacher, and Pastor thou art by thyself alone (that is, thou art not in, nor of any tru● Ch●rch society) but where these three are, there is a Church, though each Laic lives by his own faith: nor with God is there any respect of persons; for not the hearers of the Law are justified before God, but the doers, as the Apostle saith. If thou hast therefore the right of a Pastor in thyself (that is by calling) as it is necessary, it behoves thee also to have the discipline of a Pastor, and doing any thing of the Evangelist or Teachers ministry, thou art become the Priest having two wives: how much more capital is it for a Laic to exercise several parts of the ministry, seeing it is capital to the Priest himself, being for the like fact deprived of Pastorship. Obj. But thou wilt say, it should be yielded to necessity. Resp. No necessity is excused by that which cannot be. Conclusion. Reverend and beloved Brethren, I the more earnestly seek these things of you, because the way of God clearly known and held out, will unite the spirits of Saints now strangely divided, and procure the assistance of God to defend us and his truth, and give men encouragement to fight the Lords battles against the Enemies of truth, and comfort them against sufferings; when otherway many may think they fight for the truth, and fight against it: much of all which lieth in your hands to help. Which help, I, and our Lord Christ by me with the Saints call on you; for in doing whereof, you shall make your name a praise on the earth, and be called, The Restorers of the Lords paths to walk in, and the blessing of the Nation shall fall on you. Of which, and greater than all which, God make you fit for in your faithful doing the work of the Lord ye sit to do. So prays your unworthy fellow Servant in the Gospel. J. B. Septemb. 12. But to the discovery of the mystery that it may appear plain, to the ending of farther debates about this one main, and of all other most weighty work, by which the rest are upheld. The words of the Propositions. The Lord having given divers gifts, and divers exercises according to those gifts in the ministry of the Word, though these differing gifts may meet in, and accordingly be exercised by one, and the same Minister. The question is what is here understood by gifts: Here now that we may not be mistaken, we will make use of the Propositions themselves, who allow of but two ordinary Minister's, the Pastor and Teacher. 1. The gifts of the Teacher is, when he is more excelling in exposition of Scriptures, in teaching sound doctrine, and convincing gainsayers, then in application; then he hath the Teacher's gift. 2. He that is more excelling in Application then in Exposition, Teaching, etc. he is the Pastor: in this kind every man will find gifts in himself for all the ministry, if he may profit by it. Here lieth the grand mistake of all, God's mind is of another thing then the world dreams of. 1. The gifts only are indeed the differing ministeries of the Word themselves, Ephes. 4.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. ver. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers. Rom. 12.6, 7, 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉: Having therefore gifts differing according to the grace given to us, whether prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation. 1. The text is clear, these gifts were not proper for one man to exercise: for the text saith, given divers gifts to us. 2. The Lord enjoins a waiting on each particular gift, whether it be teaching or exhortation. 3. Here are two things in the text expressed, and to be diligently weighed; the gift, and the grace. 1. The gift which is the ministry we are called to by the Church. 2. The gift is to be according to the grace which is given us of God. 3. We are not to minister by the grace without the gift. 1 Tim. 4.14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery. 1. The gift was given by laying on of hands, which was the Teacher's office. 2. Not by laying on of hands of extraordinary Elders only, but of ordinary; and to be ordinarily used in the Church to the end forgiving the gift. 3. It was given him (by prophecy) that is, by experience had of his parts in preaching before ordination. 4. By laying on of hands they gave but one gift at once, which was either the Evangelist, Pastor, or Teacher, after approbation had of his graces. 5. To that gift thus given him he was to give himself unto only, and take care of, and not others. Object. It is said, the gift in thee, and therefore grace is meant only. 1. Resp. The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, with that Rom. 12.6. 1 Pet. 4.10. 2. Before ordination the gift of the ministry is in the Church, after it is in the Minister, and in that sense the Apostle saith it is in thee; and so Tertullian before: Si habes jus Sacerdotis in temetipso. Now in my judgement the Reasons why each ministry is called a gift in the Scripture are two. 1. In respect of Christ's giving them to the Church. Ephes. 4.11. 2ly, The Church by election and Presbytery by ordination give it again to particular persons, as a Church gift for the continuance of the public ministry: which must be either the gift of Evangelist, Pastor, or Teacher only: the Lord gave no other for the Church; nor can the Church give but that Christ gave her to give. 3 Scripture quoted in the Doctor's Section: 1 Pet. 4.10. As every man hath received the gift, so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1. The grace of God is manifold. 2. To this manifold grace are of the Lord appointed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, stewards of the Lords house proper to the public ministry; who must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, fair. 3. These stewards come to have their stewardship by gift, they usurp it not. 4. This gift they receive from the Church by the hands of the Presbytery. 5. One man hath but one gift to minister only, which he is bound unto to minister and wait on. 6. Gf that gift he hath received only; he is steward as well as Minister. 7. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 clearly confirms the combination of this ministry, in which every one (and so more than one) hath his proper gift, and is only enjoined the ministry thereof. 8. Most sweetly one Minister must minister to another, not in teaching themselves, but the ministry without the Church ministers to the Doctor, the Doctor to the Pastor, he to the Evangelist, that is, fitting people by degrees for perfection; the child under the Doctor is to grow under that ministry to his youth, to be under the Pastor, etc. 1. Ap. This cannot be done by a single ministry (as now) this is no Church ministry. 2. Nor by the Gospel may a Minister use more than one gift. 3. Nor can the Church give at one time to one man more than one to use at once in the Church. 4. By grace a man may have some degree of fitness for any part or all the ministry; but God allows no man to make use of more than one Church gift, and that gift must be only that he hath received: The men that lived in the Apostles times had as much grace as we, yet exercised but one gift. 1 Cor. 12.4, 5, 6. Eph. 4.8.11, 12. Compare 1 Cor. 12.4, 5, 6. Ephes. 4.8.11, 12. 1. Both begin with the gifts of the spirit, without which is no ministry to be exercised. 2. The ministry that is divers (as the gifts are) which Christ gave to the Church. 3. These differings gifts and ministry, are given for divers operations to be wrought by them in the Church: which operations are clearly set down what they are: Ephes. 4.12. and may be particularly applied thus. 1. For edifying the body, which is the Doctor; called the edifying ministry. 2. Unto the work of ministry, or the working ministry, by which the understandings of men are exercised to work in them an experimental knowledge, and understanding of spiritual things: Hebr. 5.14. their senses are exercised for the discerning things that differ. 3. Is the Evangelists ministry, called the perfecting ministry; being for the perfecting of the Saints. In conclusion, I beseech you in the name of God, my Brethren of the Assembly, according to 1 Pet. 3.15. to give your reply hereto; & I desire you to do it as such a thing ought to be done in the spirit of love and meekness: and do it plainly, not equivocally. Not using your parts to keep under the truth by fight them against God, as 2. Tim. 3.8. But let us all make it our honour to be overcome of tru●h, by which means we may come to serve God truly, and cause all contentions to fall quietly and quickly in the Land, which should be the study of you, and me, and all. But for us to strive against God, by setting up in God's house what he hath not set up, will be quickly cast down like another Dagon. I farther commend these following heads to clear the truth; which being cleared, the other parts of the Propositions fall to the ground, and come to nothing. 1. That all extraordinary officers are contained in Apostles and Prophets. 1 Cor. 12.28. 2. That all extraordinary are contained in the word Teachers, which are the rest of the officers mentioned, Ephes 4.1. 3. If all but Apostles and Prophets are Teachers, than all but they are ordinary Ministers: for all Teachers of the Word are to be in the Church ordinarily to the end, and there is the same need of, and of them, as of the other. Ephes. 4.13. Each Teacher fulfils his ministry by teaching one as well as the other, without which is no Church. 4. If Antichrist be not called the abomination of desolation, because he did make desolate the wall, separated the Church from the world, making them one, pulling down the distinct societies of Saints, and there differing ministry making all one and common. 5. Where the Church be not in that desolate estate, until the wall be rebuilded, the Saints mansions and differing ministeries erected and set up in the Church again, which are not yet. 6. The Apostles and Prophets in their names, gifts and works, made clear their extraordinariness. 7. The other ministry of Teachers had nothing extraordinary in names, gifts, call, or work they did in the Church, or were to do. Timothy ●n eminent Evangelist of an ordinary one, as ever was or shall be, had nothing extraordinary in him. 1. He had his knowledge by the ordinary way of hearing, as all have: 2 Tim. 1.13. The Epistles are written to him to direct him his life and ministry, as to other ordinary Ministers. 2ly, He had his call as the least ordinary Church Minister is to have it, and yet he is to be accounted an extraordinary officer: 1 Tim. 4.14. 3ly, Nor did he do any thing extraordinary in word or deed, or did he leave a line of his to the Church, which proves the Evangelist to be no more extraordinary than the Teacher is. I cannot pass by Mark and Luke. 1. They were not Apostles, nor Prophets. 2ly, Nor were they in the writing their Histories any of the Church Teachers. I would God would cleanse our eyes of this Popish mist; this could not be an act of Teaching, though it conduceth to Teaching; they only were Historians: such an Act as that Timothy the Evangelist and Church Teacher never did yet as an Evangelist, as teaching only, the giving denomination to all the ordinary ministry. 8. The Evangelist ceaseth not, unless any will presume to maintain, that Teachers cease in the Church: if not, then no ●ore the Evangelist than the Pastor. The Gospel Churches were by these set up and governed. 1. (Jerusalem) by James, Peter, and John: Galat. 2.9. (Rome) by Paul, Aristarchus, Marcus, and Jesus, called Justus. Colos. 4.10. Paul an extraordinary officer may by the Gospel pattern assume three helpers to himself. (Thessalonica) Ep. 1. cap. 1. ver. 1. compared cap. 2. ver. 1. Paul, Silvanus, Timothy taught the Gospel together there at first. (Ephesus) Paul, Timothy and Erastus ministered, Act. 19.22. compared with cap. 15.40. cap. 16.36. (Colossus) I suppose Paul planted not; he saith only he heard of their faith, Cap. 1. ver. 7. he says, Epaphroditus had taught them the Gospel: Cap. 2.1. he speaks as if he had not seen their face; nor doth the History of Acts mention his being there, which would not have been left out, had he been there, Epaphroditus was Teacher, cap. 1.7. Onesimus, cap 4.9. Archippus, cap. 4.17. (Philippi) was founded by Paul, Silas, Timothy, Ast. 16.12. compared with cap. 17.1.4. compared with Philip. 2.22. cap. 4.3. they have Clement when the Epistle was written, and other fellow-labourers of the Apostle with them. Antioch, Act. 13.1. are left to teach when Barnabas and Saul were sent forth, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, Tit. 1.5. ministering Elders were to be ordained in every City: & lest this should be thought only proper to City Churches, Act. 14.23. they ordained Elders in every Church, not in Cities only. I dare boldly affirm, there is no precept nor pattern in all the Gospel for a single Church ministry; therefore I hope Magistrates and Ministers will take heed what they do in setting it up in God's house: I believe we sh●ll never see peace until the way of God be set up, and ways of error cast down. The Lord therefore stir you up to quit you like men in the work of the Lord, and prosper ye. So prayeth a poor unworthy Gospel Minister, J. B. FINIS.