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

(§ 11.) 3ly. HE doth it by giving Power unto his Church in all Ages to call and separate unto the Work of the Ministry such as he hath fitted and gifted for it. The things before mentioned are essentially constituent of the Ministry, this belongs unto the outward Order of their Entrance into the Ministry who are by him called thereunto. And concerning this, we may observe the things following. (1) That this Power in the Church is not Despotical or Lordly, but consists in a Faculty, Right and Ability to act in this matter obedientially unto the Commands of Christ. Hence all the Acting of the Church in this matter, is nothing but an instituted means of conveying Authority and Office from Christ unto Persons called thereunto. The Church doth not give them any Authority of it's own, or resident in it's self, but only in a way of Obedience unto Christ do transmit Power from him unto them who are called. Hence do they become the Ministers of Christ, and not of the Bishops, or Churches, or Men, holding their Office and Authority from Christ himself, by the Law and Rule of the Gospel; so that whosoever despiseth them, despiseth him also in them. Some would have Ministers of the Gospel to receive all their Authority from the People that choose them, and some from the Bishops who Ordain them, and whence they have theirs I know not. But this is to make them Ministers of Men, and Servants of Men, and to constitute other Masters between them and Christ. And whereas all Church-Power is originally and absolutely vested ⟨p. 234⟩in Christ, and in him solely; so that none can be Partaker of the least Interest in it, or share of it, without a Communication of it from him unto them, neither Popes, nor Prelates, nor People, are able to produce any such Grant or Concession of Power unto them from him, as that they should have an Authority residing in them, and in their Power, to dispose unto others as they see cause, so as they should hold it from them, as a part or efflux of the Power vested in them. It is Obedience unto the Law of Christ, and following the Guidance of his previous Communication of Gifts as a Means to communicate his Power unto them who are called to the Ministry, that is the whole of what is committed unto any in this kind.

(§ 11.) 3ly. HE doth it by giving Power unto his Church in all Ages to call and separate unto the Work of the Ministry such as he hath sitted and gifted for it. The things before mentioned are essentially constituent of the Ministry, this belongs unto the outward Order of their Entrance into the Ministry who are by him called thereunto. And concerning this, we may observe the things following. (1) That this Power in the Church is not Despotical or Lordly, but consists in a Faculty, Right and Ability to act in this matter obedientially unto the Commands of Christ. Hence all the Acting of the Church in this matter, is nothing but an instituted means of conveying Authority and Office from Christ unto Persons called thereunto. The Church doth not give them any Authority of it's own, or resident in it's self, but only in a way of Obedience unto Christ do transmit Power from him unto them who are called. Hence do they become the Ministers of Christ, and not of the Bishops, or Churches, or Men, holding their Office and Authority from Christ himself, by the Law and Rule of the Gospel; so that whosoever despiseth them, despiseth him also in them. Some would have Ministers of the Gospel to receive all their Authority from the People that choose them, and some from the Bishops who Ordain them, and whence they have theirs I know not. But this is to make them Ministers of Men, and Servants of Men, and to constitute other Masters between them and Christ. And whereas all Church-Power is originally and absolutely vested