A41335:134
Weighty questions discussed I. Whether imposition of hands in separating a person to the…
Weighty questions discussed I. Whether imposition of hands in separating a person to the work of the ministry be necessary?, II. Whether it be essential to the right constitution of a particular church, that the teaching elders and the members meet always in one place? : whereunto is added a prediction of Mr. Daniel Rogers, minister in Essex, long before the beheading King Charles I and Arch-Bishop Laud, foretelling that they should not dye a natural death / by Giles Firmin ...Weighty questions discussed I. Whether imposition of hands in separating a person to the work of the ministry be necessry?, II. Whether it be essential to the right constitution of a particular church, that the teaching elders and the members meet alwayes in one place? : whereunto is added a prediction of Mr. Daniel Rogers, minister in Essex, long before the beheading King Charles I and Arch-Bishop Laud, foretelling that they should not dye a natural death / by Giles Firmin ...
London : Printed for the author, 1692
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But this is observable: This Ordination is the first that ever was out of Judea. Antioch then the chief City of Syria, the most powerful City of Asia, where the Prefect of the East most where resided, called by some the Gentiles Jerusalem. Here then in a City of the Gentiles, is the Apostle of the Gentiles, set apart to the Work of an Apostle among the Gentiles. And I cannot tell what use to make of it, since as I said, the Gentiles neither knew it, nor regarded it, but it is of use to us, to show us that as the Apostle of the Gentiles was separated to his Work, so all Ministers that are the Successors of the Apostles, should be separated to their Work; that as they were thus separated in the Jewish Church, so it should be in the Gentile-Christian Church.
But this is observable: This Ordination is the first that ever was out of Judea. Antioch then the chief City of Syria, the most powerful City of Asia, where the Prefect of the East most where resided, called by some the Gentiles Jerusalem. Here then in a City of the Gentiles, is the Apostle of the Gentiles, set apart to the Work of an Apostle among the Gentiles. And I cannot tell what use to make of it, since as I said, the Gentiles neither knew it, nor regarded it, but it is of use to us, to shew us that as the Apostle of the Gentiles was separated to his Work, so all Ministers that are the Successors of the Apostles, should be separated to their Work; that as they were thus separated in the Jewish Church, so it should be in the Gentile-Christian Church.
Object. But Paul was an Apostle before.
Answ. 1. I deny its For, 1st. Then the Text would have called him so. The Text tells us there were Prophets and Teachers, but he doth not say there were Apostles. Surely Paul should have had the Title of his Office, if he had been an Apostle, as well as the Prophets had.