3. Conclus, The established and settled order of calling of Pastors, is by succession of Pastors to Pastors, and Elders by Elders, 1 Tim. 5. 22. Lay hands suddenly on no man. 2 Tim. 4. 14. Neglect not the gift which was given to thee by proph•cie, with the laying on of the hands of the Elders. Secondly, the practice of the Apostles is our safe rule, because at all ordination of Church officers the Apostles and Pastors were actors and ordainers, as Acts 1. 15, 16. Acts 6. 2. 3. Acts. 14. 23. 1 Cor. 3. 6. Tit. 1. 5. and this aRobinson granteth, because the charge of all the Churches did lie on the Apostles. As also before the Law, the people did not ordain the Priest hood, but God ordained the first borne by succession to be teachers and priests; band after he chose the Tribe of Levi, without consent of the people, ⟨p. 188⟩though the Princes and heads of Tribes said hands upon them. And also God of sundry other Tribes raised up Prophets, and did immediately call them, they had only of the people not the calling, bu•• •t the least the silent approbation of the faithful amongst the people. Christ coming in the flesh chose twelve Apostles not knowing either the governing Church or the people; at length, when the Apostles established a Church-government, and a Pastor to a certain flock, they ordained that the ch•sing of the man should be with consen of the people, and beg•n this in Matthias, then the seven Deacons, then Acts 14. 23. Elders were chosen by lasting up of the peoples hands. But that persons were ordained Pastors and sanctified, and set apart for the work of the ministry, by the authority of the sole multitude, and that without all Officers, we never read. And the laying on of the hands we see not in the New Testament; we shall be desirous to be informed of this by our dear brethren, and entreat them in the fear of the Lord to consider of an unwritten calling of a Ministry. Thirdly, if ordination of Pastors be laid down in the Apostolic Canons to Officers, as Officers, then is not this a charge that doth agree to the people, especially wanting Officers. But the former is true; Ergo, so is the latter. I prove the proposition: What is charged upon Officers as Officers cannot be the charge of the people, because the people are not Officers. I prove the assumption, because 2 Tim. 2. 1, 2.
3. Conclus, The established and setled order of calling of Pastors, is by succession of Pastors to Pastors, and Elders by Elders, 1 Tim. 5. 22. Lay hands suddenly on no man. 2 Tim. 4. 14. Neglect not the gift which was given to thee by proph•cie, with the laying on of the hands of the Elders. Secondly, the practice of the Apostles is our safe rule, because at all ordination of Churchofficers the Apostles and Pastors were actors and ordainers, as Acts 1. 15, 16. Acts 6. 2. 3. Acts. 14. 23. 1 Cor. 3. 6. Tit. 1. 5. and this aRobinson granteth, because the charge of all the Churches did lie on the Apostles. As also before the Law, the people did not ordaine the Priest hood, but God ordained the first borne by succession to be teachers and priests; band after he chose the Tribe of Levi, without consent of the people, ⟨p. 188⟩though the Princes and heads of Tribes said hands upon them. And also God of sundry other Tribes raised up Prophets, and did immediately call them, they had onely of the people not the calling, bu•• •t the least the silent approbation of the faithfull amongst the people. Christ comming in the flesh chose twelve Apostles not knowing either the governing Church or the people; at length, when the Apostles established a Church-government, and a Pastor to a certaine flocke, they ordained that the ch•sing of the man should be with consen of the people, and beg•n this in Ma•thias, then the seven Deacons, then Acts 14. 23. Elders were chosen by lasting up of the peoples hands. But that persons were ordained Pastors and sanctified, and set apart for the worke of the ministery, by the authority of the sole multititude, and that without all Officers, we never read. And the laying on of the hands we see not in the New Testament; we shall be dsious to be informed of this by our deare brethren, and intreat them in the feare of the Lord to consider of an unwritten calling of a Ministery. Thirdly, if ordination of Pastors bee laid downe in the Apostolike Canons to Officers, as Officers, then is not this a charge that doth agree to the people, especially wanting Officers. But the former is true; Ergo, so is the latter. I prove the proposition: What is charged upon Officers as Officers cannot be the charge of the people, because the people are not Officers. I prove the assumption, because
- aRobinson Just. of sepa. p 327.Robinson Iust. of sepa. p 327.
- bGen. 21. 9. Gen 25. 31, 32 Num. 3. 12, •2 Num. 8, 15, 16
