It is a rule, you say. That no man can give more to another than he hath himself. But this rule of Law is unskilfully applied, or else while you dispute against one false ministry you set up another, or destroy the ministry altogether. For the community of the faithful have not power to preach the Word, or administer the Sacraments, and he that derives his authority from them, which they have not to give, is no true Minister. If they be false Ministers, who derive their authority from them that have it not, then they that derive it from the Church as the Primitive and immediate subject must go in that number. For the Church hath not that authority, ⟨p. 98⟩and she cannot give what she hath not. 1The Classis or Presbytery (you will say) hath no authority to ordain a Minister, which is to administer in another congregation, and he that derives his authority from them that have it not to give, is no true Minister. If the people and guides of the Church both consent, they have no authority to call or consecrate an unlearned, covetous, profane, heretical Minister, and he that derives authority from them that have it not to give, is no Minister, and that which is done by him is of no validity, his prayers are not heard, the Sacraments administered by him are not seal of the covenants or internal communion with Christ or his faithful people. A false Church or ministry hath no power to call and ordain a Minister or to give him power to preach the pardon of sins, or dispense the seals of grace; and the authority granted by them that have it not is a mere blank. These and such like are the proper consequences of this rule misapplied; All which no fort of Christians ever admitted as sound and true. The Papists are very forward to challenge the reformed Churches as no true Churches, because they have no true Ministers, but such as were ordained by Heretics or are fallen into heresy. And yet when they have spent their breath they dare not deny, but baptism administered by Heretics who hold entire the form of Baptism, is true, and so the Lords Supper and ordination likewise: For the impiety of the Minister cannot pollute the purity of divine mysteries, neither shall they be ineffectual to the children of God, although dispensed by Judas the Traitor. Heretics have not (saith Bellarmine) the remission of sins formally;
It is a rule, you say. That no man can give more to another than hee hath himselfe. But this rule of Law is unskilfully applyed, or else while you dispute against one false ministery you set up another, or destroy the ministery altogether. For the community of the faithfull have not power to preach the Word, or administer the Sacraments, and hee that derives his authority from them, which they have not to give, is no true Minister. If they be false Ministers, who derive their authority from them that have it not, then they that derive it from the Church as the Primitive and immediate subject must goe in that number. For the Church hath not that authority, ⟨p. 98⟩and she cannot give what shee hath not. 1The Classis or Presbytery (you will say) hath no authority to ordaine a Minister, which is to administer in another congregation, and hee that derives his authoritie from them that have it not to give, is no true Minister. If the people and guides of the Church both consent, they have no authoritie to call or consecrate an unlearned, covetous, profane, hereticall Minister, and he that derives authority from them that have it not to give, is no Minister, and that which is done by him is of no validity, his prayers are not heard, the Sacraments administred by him are not seale of the covenants or internall communion with Christ or his faithfull people. A false Church or ministery hath no power to call and ordaine a Minister or to give him power to preach the pardon of sinnes, or dispense the seales of grace; and the authority granted by them that have it not is a meere blanke. These and such like are the proper consequences of this rule misapplyed; All which no fort of Christians ever admitted as sound and true. The Papists are very forward to challenge the reformed Churches as no true Churches, because they have no true Ministers, but such as were ordained by Heretickes or are fallen into heresie. And yet when they have spent their breath they dare not deny, but baptisme administred by Heretickes who hold intyre the forme of Baptisme, is true, and so the Lords Supper and ordination likewise: For the impiety of the Minister cannot pollute the purity of divine mysteries, neither shall they be ineffectuall to the children of God, although dispensed by Iudas the Traytor. Heretickes have not (saith Bellarmine) the remission of sinnes formally;
- 1Bellar. de Sacram. I. 1. ca. 26. Hussilae ordinations sacerdetum a Romano pontifice petere consueverant. Hier. in Dialog. advers. Luciferian. Luciferiani admittebant baptisma collatum ab hereticis, sed non ordinationem. Bel. ubi supra. Johan 12. a Leon 8. antipapa schismatico ordinatos dicere compulit, pater meus nihil habuit sibi, nihil mihi dedit. Nic. 1. Ep. 1. Si execrabilis utique & non and bilis, sinon audibilis inefficax. Euseb. hist. l. 7. c. 2, 3, 4, 8, & Harm. Conf. conf. Behem. art. 12. de Bapt. Grat. par. 2, c, 1. q. 1 c. 30.31, 32, 33 &c 40, 46, 47. Bel. de facr. l. 1, c, 26, & de Eccl. l. 3. c, 9. §. Resp. igitur. Jun. animadv. Contr. 4, l, 3, c, 9. not. 1.1. Greg. Naz. orat. 40 Sint duo annuli, alter aureus, alter serreus Call. Instit. l. 4. c. 15 s. 16. & Antidote. concil. Trid. ad can. 12.Bellar. de Sacram. I. 1. ca. 26. Hussilae ordinationes sacerdetum a Romano pontifice petere consueverant. Hier. in Dialog. advers. Luciferian. Luciferiani admittebant baptisma collatum ab hereticis, sed non ordinationem. Bel. ubi supra. Iohan 12. a Leone 8. antipapa schismatico ordinatos dicere compulit, pater meus nihil habuit sibi, nihil mihi dedit. Nic. 1. Ep. 1. Si execrabilis utique & non and bilis, sinon audibilis inefficax. Euseb. hist. l. 7. c. 2, 3, 4, 8, & H•rm. Conf. conf. Behem. art. 12. de Bapt. Grat. par. 2, c, 1. q. 1 c. 30.31, 32, 33 &c 40, 46, 47. Bel. de facr. l. 1, c, 26, & de Eccl. l. 3. c, 9. §. Resp. igitur. Iun. animadv. Contr. 4, l, 3, c, 9. not. 1.1. Greg. Naz. orat. 40 Sint duo annuli, alter aureus, alter serreus Cal. Instit. l. 4. c. 15 s. 16. & Antidot. concil. Trid. ad can. 12.
