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

BUT it may be asked, Whether a Church before it come unto this [Greek or Hebrew], or Completeness, before it hath any Minister in Office, or have by any means lost the Ministry among them, may not delegate and appoint some one or more from among themselves for to Administer all the Ordinances of the Gospel among them, and unto them, and by that means make up their own Perfection?

BUT it may be asked, Whether a Church before it come unto this 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, or Compleatness, before it hath any Minister in Office, or have by any means lost the Ministry among them, may not delegate and appoint some one or more from among themselves for to Administer all the Ordinances of the Gospel among them, and unto them, and by that means make up their own Perfection?

(§ 13.) SECONDLY, The Church being so completed, these Officers are given unto it for the Work of the Ministry: This Expression is comprehensive, and the Particulars included in it are not in this place to be enquired into. It may suffice unto our present purpose to consider that it is a Work, not a Preferment; and a Work they shall find it, who design to give up a comfortable Account of what is committed unto them. It is usually observed, that all the Words whereby the Work of the Ministry is expressed in the Scripture, do denote a peculiar industrious kind of Labour: Though some have sonne out ways of Honour and Ease to be signified by them. And, ⟨p. 238⟩Both these are directed unto one general Issue. It is all [Greek or Hebrew], Unto the Edification of the Body of Christ. Not to insist on the Metaphors that are in this Expression, the Excellency of the Ministry is declared in that, the Object of it's Duty and Work is no other but the Body of Christ himself; and it's End, the Edification of this Body, or it's Increase in Faith and Obedience, in all the Graces and Gifts of the Spirit, until it comes unto Conformity unto him, and the Enjoyment of him. And a Ministry which hath not this Object and End, is not of the giving or Grant of Christ.