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…

The particulars to be premised are these. First the question is not whether Ordination be the only thing essential, or necessary to the right calling of a Minister? I have before pleaded for the necessity of the Churches consent, I now plead for the necessity of ordination; That ought to be no impediment to this, nor this to that. 2. Neither is the question, whether imposition of hands be essential and necessary to the calling of a Minister. Imposition of hands is a rite used in Ordination, after the example of the primitive Churches (of which more anon) but the substance, essence, and formal Act of Ordination is another thing. Therefore not only the Lutheran ⟨p. 34⟩divines, but Calvin in 1 Tim: 4. 14. Junius animad: in Bellar: contr: 5. lib. 1. cap: 3. Bucan•s loc: come: loc: 42. Gersomus Bucerus and others distinguish between the act of Ordination, and the rite used in that act. M. Antonius de dominis, lib: 2. de repub: Eccles: cap: 3. § 24. & cap: 4. § 13. 19. & lib: 3. cap: 5. § 48. Doth also distinguish between the rite or ceremony of laying on of hands, and the essential act of Ordination which he rightly calls missio potestativa, a sending of one with power and authority: Which agreeth well with Matth. 10. 1. Mark 3. 13, 14, 15. where we have first the election of the Apostles to their office; He calleth unto him whom he would, and they came uuto him, Matthew sayeth, he called unto him his twelve Disciples, Luke 9. 1. He called his twelve Disciples together. Here was an antecedaneous election or designation of the persons. Thereafter follows the ordaining or constituting of them in their office [Greek or Hebrew] saith Mark, and he ordained (or made) twelve that they should be with him, and that be might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal, &c. Luke addeth after the calling together of the twelve, that he gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases, and he sent them to preach, &c. Which sets forth the true nature and essence of Ordination, that it consists in a sending forth of chosen persons with power and authority. And this potestative mission of the twelve is applied, not only to power over devils and diseases (which was extraordinary and apostolical) but to power of preaching which belongeth to the ordinary Pastor to call, charge. Pastors and Teachers are Messengers,