Hence out third conclusion. The Church of believers in eminence and primacy of Christian dignity is above the Church ministerial as ministerial, 1. In dignity. 2. Stability. 3. Causality. Indignity. 1. Because the Church of believers is the redeemed and conquested purchase of our Lord Jesus, but all the office-bearers, or the ministerial Churches of Pastors and Elders on earth, are not his redeemed ones, in so far as they are no more but officers and ministers ⟨p. 34⟩of the house, except they be believers, and so they fall in to the redeemed Church which is a better world, than to be naked pulpit-men. 2. In stability, because the advocation of Christ that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church of believers, and the promises of the Covenant for perseverance standeth good for them: But no such promises of stability are made to naked Church guides, but if they guide well, they fare the better; only common gifts are promised to them which cannot take them to heaven. 3. In causality, the Church of believers are superior, and above the Church of Church-guides, because Rulers and Officers are servants and means employed by Christ for the Church of believers,1 as for the end, office-bearers are for believers, as the means for the end, but believers are not for office-bearers.2 Medicine is for our health, and meat for our life,3 and the end is the cause, and so excellenter than the means, because of these three respects, and of the necessity of consent of believers in all acts of Government. Christs kingdom being a willing people.4 The Fathers, Tertullian, Origen, 5Cyprian, Chrysostom, Augustine, Epiphanius, Jerome, 6Cyril, Hilary, and our late Divines, Junius, Chemnitius, 7Martyr Calvin, Beza, Willet, Fulke, Bucer, and our brethren Baines and Ames. do ascribe a superiority, and so an authority to believers,8 as to the fountain and cause of jurisdiction above Ministers, and give the exercise of jurisdiction only to officers, not because officers have not the power,9 aswell as the exercise, but because the being and operation of officers is all for the Church.10 Gerson also in this subjecteth the Pope, (and we every Pastor, suppose he were a double Lord Prelate) to the Church,11 that is, to the Council or Assembly of the Church, and that in a fourfold respect: 1.
Hence out third conclusion. The Church of believers in eminence and primacie of Christian dignitie is above the Church ministeriall as ministeriall, 1. In dignitie. 2. Stabilitie. 3. Causalitie. Indignitie. 1. Because the Church of believers is the redeemed and conquested purchase of our Lord Jesus, but all the office-bearers, or the ministeriall Churches of Pastours and Elders on earth, are not his redeemed ones, in so far as they are no more but officers and ministers ⟨p. 34⟩of the house, except they be believers, and so they fall in to the redeemed Church which is a better world, than to be naked pulpit-men. 2. In stabilitie, because the advocation of Christ that the gates of hell shall not prevaile against the Church of believers, and the promises of the Covenant for perseverance standeth good for them: But no such promises of stabilitie are made to naked Church guides, but if they guide well, they fare the better; only common gifts are promised to them which cannot take them to heaven. 3. In causalitie, the Church of believers are superiour, and above the Church of Church-guides, because Rulers and Officers are servants and meanes imployed by Christ for the Church of believers,1 as for the end, office-bearers are for believers, as the meanes for the end, but believers are not for office-bearers.2 Medicine is for our health, and meate for our life,3 and the end is the cause, and so excellenter than the meanes, because of these three respects, and of the necessity of consent of believers in all acts of Government. Christs kingdome being a willing people.4 The Fathers, Tertullian, Origen, 5Cyprian, Chrysostome, Augustine, Epiphanius, Ierome, 6Cyrill, Hilarie, and our late Divines, Junius, Chemnitius, 7Martyr Calvin, Beza, Willet, Fulke, Bucer, and our brethren Baines and Ames. doe ascribe a superioritie, and so an authoritie to believers,8 as to the fountaine and cause of jurisdiction above Ministers, and give the exercise of jurisdiction only to officers, not because officers have not the power,
- 1Tertul. apol. c. 33 Orig in •. hom. 7 Cypr. l. de pasto. c. 13.
- 2Chrys. de sacerd. l. 3.
- 3August. de doct. Christ. l. 1. c. 18. Epiphan. contr. haeres. 73.
- 4Hieron. •d Gal. 9▪ 10.
- 5Cyril. in Joh. 20 21.Cyrill. in Ioh. 20 21.
- 6Hilarius.
- 7Jun. l. sing. de eccles. c. 9.Iun. l. sing. de eccles. c. 9.
- 8Chemnit. exam. concil. Trident. Martyr. in Cor. 5 Calvin. Comment. in • Cor. 5. 21.
- 9Be•a ib.
- 10Fulk against Rhemist. 1 Cor. 5. 3.
- 11Willet synods papis. cont. 9 q 1. c. 9.Willet syno•s papis. cont. 9 q 1. c. 9.
