II. Conclusion; 1There is a power popular, but not authoritative; a power of private Christians (not an official power of charge) given to the visible professors to make choice of their own office-bearers:2 those against whom we now dispute,3 brethren, reverend, learned and holy, do confound and take for one and the same, the power of electing ⟨p. 4⟩or choosing officers, and the power of Ordination. And they make election of Elders (which by Gods Word is due to all the faithful) an act of jurisdiction, whereas it is a private and popular•act, flowing from that spirit of grace in believers, and from the light of saving faith, and a grace that they call,4 gratia gratum faciens, grace whereby we are accepted to God,5 as Aquinas speaketh, for it is that Heavenly instinct of Believers,6 whereby they try all thing, 7and keep that which is good, and whereby they try the spirits (even of Office bearers) whether they be of God, 8or not, and know the voice of the Shepherd, from the voice of a stranger, and have their senses exercised to discern good and evil. I deny not, but there is a twofold power of election of guides, one proper to believers, which is, as I have described it, their choosing of Officers, De jure, and should flow from this discerning instinct of saving grave in believers: there is an other power of election, De facto, that floweth from a common grace of discerning in visible professors, both is sufficient for Ecclesiastical choosing of guides, yet both is but popular, not authoritative; but power of authoritative jurisdiction, is gratia gratis data, a common grace given to many, that are never converted nor saved; yea the office of a public guide to save others, is given to a man that is never saved himself, and requireth some endowments of governing, that are not required in all the faithful, as is cleared by Paul, 1 Timothy 3.9 Therefore Gerson will have us to difference betwixt these two,10 a Pastour ad utilitatem, and a Pastour ad veritatem, and a called Pastor, and a called Christian Pastor.11 And Almain proveth well, that the calling to a Church-office, is not founded upon saving faith and charity. This power of choosing is a power about the keys, but not a power of the keys. 2.
II. Conclusion; 1There is a power popular, but not authoritative; a power of private Christians (not an officiall power of charge) given to the visible professors to make choise of their owne office-bearers:2 those against whom we now dispute,3 brethren, reverend, learned and holy, doe confound and take for one and the same, the power of electing ⟨p. 4⟩or choosing officers, and the power of Ordination. And they make election of Elders (which by Gods Word is due to all the faithfull) an act of jurisdiction, whereas it is a private and popular•act, flowing from that spirit of grace in believers, and from the light of saving faith, and a grace that they call,4 gratia gratum faciens, grace whereby wee are accepted to God,5 as Aquinas speaketh, for it is that Heavenly instinct of Believers,6 whereby they try all thing, 7and keepe that which is good, and whereby they try the spirits (even of Officebearers) whether they be of God, 8or not, and know the voice of the Shepheard, from the voice of a stranger, and have their senses exercised to discerne good and evill. I denie not, but there is a twofold power of election of guides, one proper to believers, which is, as I have described it, their choosing of Officers, De jure, and should flow from this descerning instinct of saving grave in believers: there is an other power of election, De facto, that floweth from a common grace of discerning in visible professors, both is sufficient for Ecclesiasticall choosing of guides, yet both is but popular, not authoritative; but power of authoritative jurisdiction, is gratia gratis data, a common grace given to many, that are never converted nor saved; yea the office of a publike guide to save others, is given to a man that is never saved himselfe, and requireth some indowments of governing, that are not required in all the faithfull, as is cleared by Paul,
- 12 Conclusion.
- 2Acts 1. 21.
- 3Act. 6. 4.
- 4Aquinas •2. q. 81.
- 51 Thes. 5. 21.
- 61 John. 4. 1.1 Iohn. 4. 1.
- 7John▪ 10. 8. 27. 28.Iohn▪ 10. 8. 27. 28.
- 8Heb. 5▪ 14.
- 91 Tim. 3. 2, 3, 4, 5▪ 6.
- 10Gerson de aufer. pa consid. 16.
- 11Almain de pote. laica & eccles. •. 3.
