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…

Object 2. But if we believe the Ministry to be a perpetual ordinance, and if there be a promise that Christ will be with the Ministry to the end of the world, then we must also believe a succession of Ministers since the Apostles days, and that in the midst of Popery it self, Christ had a true Ministry. Answer, If our believing the holy Church universal, and that in all ages Christ hath had and shall have a true Church, doth not infer that we must believe the Church either always visible, or always pure, so our believing a perpetual Ministry, doeth not infer that therefore we must believe either a lineal or visible succession of Ministers, or their purity and preservation from error. There is nothing of this kind can be objected against our believing a perpetual Ministry, but it falleth as heavy upon our belief of the perpetuity of the Church.

Object 2. But if we beleeve the Ministery to bee a perpetuall ordinance, and if there be a promise that Christ will bee with the Ministery to the end of the world, then wee must also beleeve a succession of Ministers since the Apostles dayes, and that in the midst of Popery it self, Christ had a true Ministery. Answer, If our beleeving the holy Church universall, and that in all ages Christ hath had and shall have a true Church, doth not inferre that wee must beleeve the Church either alwayes visible, or alwayes pure, so our beleeving a perpetuall Ministery, doeth not inferre that therefore wee must beleeve either a lineall or visible succession of Ministers, or their purity and preservation from error. There is nothing of this kinde can bee objected against our beleeving a perpetuall Ministery, but it falleth as heavy upon our beleife of the perpetuity of the Church.

Object. 3. The multitude of believers are under the new Testament made a royal Priest-hood, 1 Pet. 2. 9. And Christ hath made us Kings and Priests unto God, Revel. 1. 6. Answer, First Peter explaineth himself, 1 Pet. 2. 5. ye are an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. What these spiritual sacrifices are we may find in other Scriptures, the mortification of the flesh and offering up of our selves to God,