A brief instruction in the worship of God, and discipline of the churches of…

Five things are here said to be required unto the due and solemn constitution of a Minister, Guide, Elder, Pastor, or Teacher of the Church▪ which as they do not all equally belong unto the essence of the call, so they are all indispensably necessary unto him that would be accounted to have taken that office upon him according to the mind of Christ, and they are plainly expressed in the Scripture.

The First is, that they be furnished with the gifts of the Holy-Ghost, for the discharge of the Ministry. The communication of the gifts of the Holy-Ghost, is the foundation of the Ministry, as the Apostle declares, Ephes. 4.7, 8, 11, 12, 13. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure ⟨p. 127⟩of the gift of Christ, wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto Men, and he gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the Ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man. And if this were not continued, if the Lord Christ did not continue to give gifts unto men for that end, the ministry must and would cease in the Church; and all Church order and administrations thereon. The exercise also of the gifts, is required in all them that are called unto sacred office, 1 Tim. 4.14. Neglect nor the gift that is in thee. Hence persons destitute of these gifts of the spirit, as they cannot in a due manner discharge any one duty of the Ministry, so wanting an interest in that which is the foundation of the Office, are not esteemed of God as Ministers at all, whatever their outward call may be, Hosea 4.6. Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will ⟨p. 128⟩