To pursue this, first, Consider that there are many large disputes both in old 1and later writers about the Call of Church-officers. As the truth it self is subject to many difficulties: So the perverse disputes of men have made it more intricate and entangled; only this we may observe, That the several parties which are in Religion that hold any Ministry, or such an Office at all, and that by Divine Institution (for some deny such an Institution) they still monopolize and appropriate the Call to themselves; with them only is the true Church; with them only are the true Officers of the Church. And no doubt that way of Religion, which can say, with them only is the true Call, and the true Church-officers, and the right administration of Ordinances, doth infinitely excel all other ways. For Gods promise and success doth accompany only his own Officers, and his own Ordinances. As the people of God, will not hear a stranger, but flee from him; so neither will God go along with such strangers. It's only to his Apostles and their Successors, that he promiseth to be with to the end of the world. Therefore that Church who can upon just grounds say, that with us are the true Officers, with us are Christs institutions punctually observed; no doubt but with them is Christ present, and with them is the Kingdom of Heaven. This was the great advantage Abijah pleaded in his Remonstrance against Jeroboam, who had devised a new Ministry and a new worship, 2 Chron. 13. 9, 10, 11. Where he pleads, That in Jerusalem was the true succession of Priests, and there was the charge of God kept, and that therefore God himself was with them. To have therefore a true Call, is of so great concernment, that all pretend to it. The Papist chargeth the Protestant, That their Ministers have no true Call: The Protestant returneth the same charge to them. The Brownist, he saith, neither Papist nor Protestant have true Calls. Yea and the Protestants themselves, because of their different opinions in Church-Government, have also different opinions about the Call of Church-officers. So that it being of such consequence, no wonder if the Devil keep up this controversy as much as may be in the Church, especially if he pursue this design, to make the world believe, That the faithful Ministers of God have no true Call: for this is to strike at the very root of all.
To pursue this, first, Consider that there are many large disputes both in old 1and later writers about the Call of Church-officers. As the truth it self is subject to many difficulties: So the perverse disputes of men have made it more intricate and intangled; onely this we may observe, That the several parties which are in Religion that hold any Ministry, or such an Office at all, and that by Divine Institution (for some deny such an Institution) they still monopolize and appropriate the Call to themselves; with them onely is the true Church; with them only are the true Officers of the Church. And no doubt that way of Religion, which can say, with them only is the true Call, and the true Church-officers, and the right administration of Ordinances, doth infinitely excell all other waies. For Gods promise and success doth accompany only his own Officers, and his own Ordinances. As the people of God, will not hear a stranger, but flee from him; so neither will God go along with such strangers. It's only to his Apostles and their Successours, that he promiseth to be with to the end of the world. Therefore that Church who can upon just grounds say, that with us are the true Officers, with us are Christs institutions punctually observed; no doubt but with them is Christ present, and with them is the Kingdom of Heaven. This was the great advantage Abijah pleaded in his Remonstrance against Jeroboam, who had devised a new Ministry and a new worship, 2 Chron. 13. 9, 10, 11. Where he pleads, That in Jerusalem was the true succession of Priests, and there was the charge of God kept, and that therefore God himself was with them. To have therefore a true Call, is of so great concernment, that all pretend to it. The Papist chargeth the Protestant, That their Ministers have no true Call: The Protestant returneth the same charge to them. The Brownist, he saith, neither Papist nor Protestant have true Calls. Yea and the Protestants themselves, because of their different opinions in Church-Government, have also different opinions about the Call of Church-officers. So that it being of such consequence, no wonder if the Devil keep up this controveesie as much as may be in the Church, especially if he pursue this designe, to make the world believe, That the faithfull Ministers of God have no true Call: for this is to strike at the very root of all.
- 1Both ancient and modern Writers have much disputed about the Call of Church-officers.
