It is a blemish in the calling of a Minister, if either the people be not fit to choose, or being fit they be shut forth from the choice, but this maim doth not make a nullicie in his calling; for in every true Church where the word is preached and received, and the Sacraments for substance rightly administered, there is a true and lawful Ministry, and a true and lawful calling of that Ministry, though in some things defective. In the Church of God all sound and saving truth is to be found, for it is the pillar and ground of truth, and where the true profession of all saving truth, with the right use of the Sacraments for substance is to be found, there is the Church, which ordinarily cannot be had, maintained and continued without a lawful Ministry, nor that without a calling. The saving truth of God & a lawful Ministry, are both essential to a true Church. Something of this remains in every complete society that hath any thing of the Church; and for essence and substance they are true in every true, lawful, complete society. The profession of the truth may be true and sound in all necessary ⟨p. 87⟩and fundamental points, though mixed with diverse errors, and the Ministry for truth and substance lawful, though many ways deficient. In the true Church there is a true Ministry, but the true Church hath continued there by the blessing of God, where the election of Ministers hath been given away by the people, or taken from them. In the primitive Church, when the people had a voice in the choice of their Pastor, oftentimes there were factions in the Church, the people stood against their guides and challenged the whole power of election to themselves.1 Sometimes they were divided among themselves. Sometimes they gave away their power, at least in part, and sometimes Ministers were set over them without their counsel and advice, whose Ministry notwithstanding was not reputed void and of none effect. If it be objected that many things were amiss in those primitive elections, what will follow thence, but that the Ministry may be lawful and good, where there be many wants in the manner of calling. If this be not granted, what shall be done when the people and their Elders be divided in the choice of a fit Officer. If the people prevail against their Elders, he whom they choose is no Minister to them, because not chosen by their suffrages:
It is a blemish in the calling of a Minister, if either the people be not fit to choose, or being fit they be shut forth from the choice, but this maime doth not make a nullicie in his calling; for in every true Church where the word is preached and received, and the Sacraments for substance rightly administred, there is a true and lawfull Ministery, and a true and lawfull calling of that Ministery, though in some things defective. In the Church of God all sound and saving truth is to be found, for it is the pillar and ground of truth, and where the true profession of all saving truth, with the right use of the Sacraments for substance is to be found, there is the Church, which ordinarily cannot be had, maintained and continued without a lawfull Ministery, nor that without a calling. The saving truth of God & a lawfull Ministery, are both essentiall to a true Church. Something of this remaines in every compleat societie that hath any thing of the Church; and for essence and substance they are true in every true, lawfull, compleat societie. The profession of the truth may be true and sound in all necessary ⟨p. 87⟩and fundamentall points, though mixed with diverse errors, and the Ministery for truth and substance lawfull, though many wayes deficient. In the true Church there is a true Ministery, but the true Church hath continued there by the blessing of God, where the election of Ministers hath been given away by the people, or taken from them. In the primitive Church, when the people had a voyce in the choice of their Pastor, oftentimes there were factions in the Church, the people stood against their guides and challenged the whole power of election to themselves.1 Sometimes they were divided among themselves. Sometimes they gave away their power, at least in part, and sometimes Ministers were set over them without their councell and advice, whose Ministery notwithstanding was not reputed voyde and of none effect. If it be objected that many things were amisse in those primitive elections, what will follow thence, but that the Ministery may be lawfull and good, where there be many wants in the manner of calling. If this be not granted, what shall be done when the people and their Elders be divided in the choice of a fit Officer. If the people prevaile against their Elders, he whom they choose is no Minister to them, because not chosen by their suffrages:
- 1Theod. hist. l. 4. c. 6. Aug Epist. 110. & 225. Socrat. hist. l 7. c. 34, 35. 39. Zozom. hist. l. 2. c. 18, 19. Nazian. in Epitaphium patris Evagr. l. 2. c. 5. 8. Theod. hist. l. 5. c. 23. Jun. animadver in Bel. cont. 5. l. 1. c. 7. not. 16, 17. Cartur. reply 2d. part 1. pa. 211. Illiric. catal. test. li. 2. tit. Ecclesiae gubern.
