A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…

CHAP. I.

That the Ministry is a perpetual Ordinance of Christ in the Church, and that Ministers are to be received as the Ambassadors of▪ Christ, now aswell as in the Primitive times.

That the Ministery is a perpetuall Ordinance of Christ in the Church, and that Ministers are to bee received as the Embassadours of▪ Christ, now aswell as in the Primitive times.

That which hath long lurked in the hearts of many Atheists, is now professed and argued for, by that fierce furious Erastian, whose book was published the last year at Franeker. He cries out that the world is abused with that notion of a pretended sacred ministerial calling, that though the Apostles and others who first preached the Gospel, were indeed sent and set apart for that holy calling, which was also confirmed by signs and miracles, and they were therefore to be received and submitted unto, as the Ambassadors of Christ, yet Ministers and Pastors now are not to be acknowledged, as the Ambassadors of Christ, neither is there any such thing now to be acknowledged, as a special distinct sacred calling, or solemn setting apart of men to the ministry of the Word and Sacraments, but any who is fit and gifted, though not called or ordained, may both preach and minister the Sacraments, Baptism and the Lords Supper. The Sect of Seekers also hold that there are not at this time, neither have been for many ages past any true Ministers or Ambassadors of Christ. Now for confutation of these Errors, and for the confirmation and ⟨p. 2⟩settlement of such as are any way shaken or troubled therewith, I have thought good here in the first place, to make sure this principle that the Ministry as it is distinct both from Magistracy, and from private Christians, is a perpetual standing Ordinance of Christ in his Church to the end of the world. This I prove first from,