Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit…

(§ 17.) NOR is there in the Scripture the least mention of the Call or Appointment of any one to be an Ecclesiastical Officer in an Ordinary stated Church, but with Relation unto that Church whereof he was, or was to be, an Officer. But an Evangelist as such, was not especially related unto any one Church more than another; though as the Apostles themselves, they might for a time attend unto the Work in one Place or Church, rather or more, than another. Wherefore without a Call from the Holy Ghost, either immediate by Prophecy and Revelation, or by the Direction of Persons infallibly inspired, as the Apostles were, none can be called to be Evangelists, nor yet to succeed them under any other Name in that Office. Wherefore the Primitive Church after the Apostles time, never once took upon them to constitute or Ordain an Evangelist, as knowing it a thing beyond their Rule, and out of their Power. Men may invade an Office when they please, but unless they be called unto it, they must account for their Usurpation. And as for those who have erected an Office in the Church, or an Episcopacy, principally if not solely out of what is ascribed unto these Evangelists, namely, to Timothy and Titus, they may be further attended unto in their Claim, when they lay the least Pretence unto the whole of what is ascribed unto them. But this doing the Work of an Evangelist, is that which few Men care for, or delight in; only their Power und Authority in a new kind of Mannagery, ⟨p. 156⟩many would willingly possess themselves of.

(§ 17.) NOR is there in the Scripture the least mention of the Call or Appointment of any one to be an Ecclesiastical Officer in an Ordinary stated Church, but with Relation unto that Church whereof he was, or was to be, an Officer. But an Evangelist as such, was not especially related unto any one Church more than another; though as the Apostles themselves, they might for a time attend unto the Work in one Place or Church, rather or more, than another. Wherefore without a Call from the Holy Ghost, either immediate by Prophesie and Revelation, or by the Direction of Persons infallibly inspired, as the Apostles were, none can be called to be Evangelists, nor yet to succeed them under any other Name in that Office. Wherefore the Primitive Church after the Apostles time, never once took upon them to constitute or Ordain an Evangelist, as knowing it a thing beyond their Rule, and out of their Power. Men may invade an Office when they please, but unless they be called unto it, they must account for their Usurpation. And as for those who have erected an Office in the Church, or an Episcopacy, principally if not solely out of what is ascribed unto these Evangelists, namely, to Timothy and Titus, they may be further attended unto in their Claim, when they lay the least Pretence unto the whole of what is ascribed unto them. But this doing the Work of an Evangelist, is that which few Men care for, or delight in; only their Power und Authority in a new kind of Mannagery,