An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

First, It was necessary that he should have an immediate Call from Christ. ¹So ye read they all had. Therefore when Judas was fallen from that Office, the other Apostles did not presume to choose one in his room by themselves, but they did solemnly call upon God, who by lot gave direction, who should be the man; and then Paul, as you heard, he was immediately called by Christ from Heaven, and therefore often saith, He was not an Apostle of men, or by men, but wholly and solely by the will of God. Thus as there were Prophets in the Old Testament, and so also some in the New, who were immediately inspired by God; so there were such who also had an immediate Call from God; and it was the consideration of this Call that did so embolden them, especially against all traducers and false accusers, as appeareth by Paul himself in this Epistle. But now you must know, That though the Pastors and Teachers, which in after ages have ruled in the Church, had not such an immediate Call from God, but mediate by man, yet even they also are truly appointed of God. Even the ordinary Officers are in Christs stead, and are to be received as from God, for they have as true a Call, though not as immediate. As Abel Adam's son was as truly a man, though in an ordinary way, as Adam, who was immediately made by God. Hence Eph. 4. 11. Christ is said to set in his Church Pastors, as well as Apostles. This is necessarily to be observed, because that we are apt to despise that Office, which hath not an immediate Call.

First, It was necessary that he should have an immediate Call from Christ. ¹So ye read they all had. Therefore when Judas was fallen from that Office, the other Apostles did not presume to choose one in his room by themselves, but they did solemnly call upon God, who by lot gave direction, who should be the man; and then Paul, as you heard, he was immediately called by Christ from Heaven, and therefore often saith, He was not an Apostle of men, or by men, but wholly and solely by the will of God. Thus as there were Prophets in the Old Testament, and so also some in the New, who were immediately inspired by God; so there were such who also had an immediate Call from God; and it was the consideration of this Call that did so imbolden them, especially against all traducers and false accusers, as appeareth by Paul himself in this Epistle. But now you must know, That though the Pastors and Teachers, which in after ages have ruled in the Church, had not such an immediate Call from God, but mediate by man, yet even they also are truly appointed of God. Even the ordinary Officers are in Christs stead, and are to be received as from God, for they have as true a Call, though not as immediate. As Abel Adam's sonne was as truly a man, though in an ordinary way, as Adam, who was immediately made by God. Hence